1948 Argentine legislative election

Argentina held legislative elections in 1948 were held on 7 March.

1948 Argentine legislative election
Argentina
7 March 1948

83 of 158 seats in the National Congress
Turnout75.19%
Party % Seats +/–
Peronist Party 56.32% 58 +2
Radical Civic Union 24.49% 23 +1
National Democratic Party 3.66% 1 0
Revolutionary Worker's Front 0.88% 1 +1
Results by province
President of the Chamber of Deputies before President of the Chamber of Deputies after
Ricardo Guardo
UCR-JR
Héctor José Cámpora
Peronist

Background

President Juan Perón and Cardinal Copello confer shortly after the approval of the 1949 Constitution. Perón maintained the Church's support for his early reforms by assuring the curia a voice in his ambitious agenda.

Elected in early 1946 on a populist platform, President Juan Perón undertook a program of nationalization of strategic industries and services, as well as the vigorous support of demands for higher wages (led by the rapidly growing CGT labor union). He also took care to cultivate Church-state relations in Argentina, making religious instruction mandatory and regularly consulting the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Copello, on social policy. These moves and economic growth of nearly a fourth in his first two years led to a positive showing in legislative elections on March 7 - held only week after the nationalization of British railways in Argentina, and during Perón's appendectomy. Half the seats in the Lower House were renewed, and its makeup changed only somewhat in favor of Peronists.[1]

The opposition had dissolved their 1945 alliance, the Democratic Union; but they rallied behind and largely endorsed the only party significant enough to challenge Perón: the centrist Radical Civic Union (UCR). The president moved quickly to consolidate his political power, replacing the Labor Party that elected him with a Peronist Party, in 1947, and purging universities and the Supreme Court of opposition. The brazen moves were followed by the Peronists' introduction in Congress of a bill mandating an assembly for the replacement of the 1853 Constitution. Debate in Congress, where the UCR had retained a sizable minority, was heated throughout 1948, though the bill was approved by 96 out of 158 congressmen.[2] The UCR itself was divided during the vote; a faction that had supported Perón (the "Renewal Group," led by Amadeo Sabattini) abstained in an attempt to deprive the vote of quorum, and ultimately broke with Perón.[2]

Elections for the 158 assemblymen were called for December 5. Results closely mirrored those of the legislative elections, though blank voting increased as a result of Congressman Sabattini's call. One Peronist assemblyman was elected as a "Labor Party" candidate, joining Sabattini's opposition to its redesignation as a "Peronist" party. UCR assemblymen, for their part, attended only the inaugural session to espress their opposition to the body's legality. The assembly concluded its proceeding on March 16, 1949, with a new constitution granting the president the right to seek reelection, depriving Congress of its right to override vetoes, enacting social guarantees, and enhancing the state's rights over natural resources - all designed to advance Perón's agenda at the time.[2]

Results

Party Votes  % Seats won Total seats
Peronist Party (PP) 1,431,284 56.32 58 111
Radical Civic Union (UCR) 622,453 24.49 23 44
Socialist Party (PS) 151,581 5.96
National Democratic Party (PDN) 93,012 3.66 1 2
Communist Party (PC) 88,190 3.47
Worker's Party of the Revolution 56,377 2.22
Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) 50,181 1.97
Revolutionary Worker's Front 22,245 0.88 1 1
Nationalist Liberation Alliance 11,604 0.46
Labour Gathering Party (CO) 4,205 0.17
Independent Labour Party 3,899 0.15
Argentine Renewal Youth
Labour Party 1,705 0.07
Agrarian Social Party 1,544 0.06
Nationalist Party 887 0.03
October 17th Labour Party 591 0.02
Others 1,446 0.06
Total 2,541,204 100 83 158
Positive votes 2,541,204 96.71
Invalid/blank votes 77,576 2.95
Tally sheet differences 8,852 0.34
Total votes 2,627,632 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,494,620 75.19
Source:[3]

Results by province

Province Peronist Radical Civic Union Others
Votes  % Seats Votes  % Seats Votes  % Seats
Buenos Aires 431,360 60.54 16 201,941 28.34 7 79,225 11.12
Buenos Aires City 307,828 50.24 11 125,569 20.49 5 179,305 29.27
Córdoba 163,774 53.68 7 117,218 38.42 3 24,128 7.91
Corrientes 49,976 60.56 3 17,739 21.50 1 14,804 17.94
Entre Ríos 86,468 58.47 4 45,604 30.84 2 15,809 10.69
Mendoza 62,004 63.42 2 17,221 17.61 1 18,548 18.97
San Juan 36,555 77.19 1 6,094 12.87 4,708 9.95
San Luis 18,081 68.58 2 3,029 11.49 5,253 19.93 1
Santa Fe 153,547 46.26 7 60,324 18.17 3 118,081 35.57
Santiago del Estero 54,901 76.58 2 14,732 20.55 1 2,059 2.88
Tucumán 66,790 63.42 3 12,982 12.33 25,547 24.26 1
Total 1,431,284 56.32 58 622,453 24.49 23 487,467 19.19 2

References

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