Argentina is a multiparty democracy; the president is head of state.
Main Political Issues
Maintaining economic stability
Carlos Menem's radical privatization policies and his vigorous cutting back of the state sector succeeded in reducing inflation from a high of over 7,000% to 18% by 1992. A new currency, the peso, introduced in 1992, has maintained parity with the dollar. The central aim of policy now is to maintain growth, keeping a tight rein on inflation, and encouraging foreign investment.
Carlos Menem's reelection
Until 1993, Argentina's constitution prevented presidents from standing for consecutive terms. President Menem called an election in 1994 to allow him to change the constitution so that he could stand again. The issue sharply divided the electorate. Menem's supporters wished to secure his free-market policies. His opponents feared Menem could turn into a second Per≤n, running a de facto civilian dictatorship.
The role of the military
Following the military's fall from power in 1983, officers were tried during Alfonsφn's administration for the murder of thousands of "suspects." Carlos Menem decided to pardon the officers, but the issue continues to generate controversy. Many remain suspicious of the military's political power behind the scenes.
Profile
The Peronists have been the dominant civilian political force in Argentina since the 1940s. The party was founded on mass working-class and left-wing intellectual support. It has often been in disagreement with the military, which in practice represents the right and which mounted coups in 1955, 1966 and 1976. The UCR tends to stay in opposition, except when the electorate wishes to register a protest vote, as in 1983. Carlos Menem won elections in 1989 on a populist, left-wing platform. However, he switched tack quickly, steering the Peronists toward right-wing, free-market policies, and in the process gained the support of conservatives.
