Federal Peronism

Following the crisis that precipitated the resignation of President Fernando de la Rúa on December 21, 2001, the opposition Justicialist Party won a majority in both houses of the Argentine Congress in the October 2001 mid-term elections. The first interim President of Argentina elected by Congress after de la Rúa's resignation, San Luis Province Senator Adolfo Rodríguez Saá, had the support of a group of governors and legislators from the hinterland provinces, from where the informal designation of Federal Peronism originated. He resigned a week later, however, after failing to gain support from other factions of Peronism, from organized labor, and other sectors of Argentine society. The former Governor of Buenos Aires Province and runner-up in the 1999 general election, Eduardo Duhalde was elected by the Congress as interim President of Argentina on January 2, 2002.

Eduardo Duhalde, who counted on the support of Buenos Aires Province Peronism and some labor union leaders, called elections for April 2003, and persuaded the fractious Justicialist Party to present candidates directly to the general elections, without party primaries.{{cite news |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=744788 |title=El peronismo oficial y el disidente intentarán acaparar los comicios |trans-title=The official Peronism and the dissident will try to monopolize the elections |access-date=26 September 2009 |date=5 October 2005 |work=La Nación |language=es}} After attempting to endorse other candidates (Carlos Reutemann, who refused to run, and José Manuel de la Sota, who did badly at the polls), Duhalde threw his support behind the little-known Governor of Santa Cruz Province, Néstor Kirchner. Federal Peronists, in turn, were represented in the elections by two factions, one headed by former President Carlos Menem and Governor of Salta Province José Luis Romero, identified with the policies spoused by Menem's 1989-99 presidency, and the other by Adolfo Rodríguez Saá and his brother, Alberto Rodríguez Saá,{{cite web |url=http://www.nuevamayoria.com/ES/INVESTIGACIONES/politico_electoral/031125.html |title=En el 2003, el peronismo logra el mayor predominio político-electoral de los últimos veinte años |trans-title=In 2003, Peronism achieved the greatest political-electoral predominance in the last twenty years |access-date=26 September 2009 |date=25 November 2003 |publisher=Centro de Estudios Nueva Mayoría |language=es |archive-date=14 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714211041/http://www.nuevamayoria.com/ES/INVESTIGACIONES/politico_electoral/031125.html |url-status=dead }} in an alliance with Radical Civic Union lawmaker Melchor Posse. Menem and Kirchner emerged as the runoff candidates, but the former President withdrew on May 14 as he anticipated a landslide defeat (the polls favored Kirchner 70%–30%), and Kirchner became the president-elect.[http://todo-argentina.net/historia/democracia/kirchner/index.html Todo Argentina: Kirchner] {{in lang|es}}

The alliance between President Kirchner and Duhalde had been dissolved by the 2005 mid-term elections. Kirchner and Duhalde fielded their respective wives (each an influential lawmaker in her own right), Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Hilda González de Duhalde, as leaders of their party lists in Buenos Aires Province (the nation's largest constituency). The landslide victory of the Kirchners' FpV consolidated their leadership role in the Justicialist Party,{{cite news |url=http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2005/10/24/elpais/p-00601.htm |work=Clarín |title=Un Presidente fuerte, con límits |trans-title=A strong President, with limits |language=es}} and this in turn forced Duhalde to break with the official Peronist body, the Justicialist Party, in which Kirchnerism had become the dominant force. He thus established Federal Peronism on November 4, 2005, and gathered a caucus of 25 Congressmen in its support.{{cite news |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/753404-duhalde-dejara-la-politica-y-su-sector-queda-en-libertad-de-accion |work=La Nación |title=Duhalde dejará la política y su sector queda en libertad de acción |trans-title=Duhalde will leave politics and his sector is free to act |language=es}}

They later backed Alberto Rodríguez Saá's conservative Peronist candidacy in the 2007 presidential elections, where Mrs. Kirchner was elected to succeed her husband with 45% of the vote (twice that of the runner-up, and six times that of Rodríguez Saá).{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7066776.stm |work=BBC News |title=Argentina's first lady wins poll |date=30 October 2007}}

Dissident Peronism was united by its opposition to Kirchner's Front for Victory (FpV), which became the leading vehicle for left-wing Peronists and incorporated much of the official Peronist structure. Among the early leaders in Dissident Peronism also included Misiones Province Senator Ramón Puerta, Buenos Aires Province Congressman Carlos Ruckauf, and union leader {{ill|Luis Barrionuevo (union leader)|lt=Luis Barrionuevo|es|Luis Barrionuevo}}. Barrionuevo, unlike most members of the CGT, was allied with Menem, who arguably remained the most prominent spokesman for neo-liberal policies in Argentina.

The 2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector over a proposed rise in export tariffs led to a sharp drop in presidential approval ratings, and numerous FpV lawmakers from more agrarian provinces broke with the party. The defections, which included 16 Lower House members and 4 Senators, thus resulted in the reemergence of Federal Peronism. The conflict also prompted Luis Barrionuevo, whose alliance with Menem had cost him support in the CGT, to organize a splinter trade union confederation, the "Blue and White CGT," to challenge the center-left wing leadership of Secretary General Hugo Moyano, albeit unsuccessfully.{{cite news |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1028750 |work=La Nación |title=Se fracturó la CGT tras la reelección de Moyano |trans-title=The CGT fractured after the re-election of Moyano |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813092808/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1028750 |archive-date=13 August 2008 |language=es}} A dissident Peronist who as an ally of Menem had never joined the FpV, businessman Francisco de Narváez, in turn formed an alliance with the center-right PRO in Buenos Aires Province and the city of Buenos Aires for the 2009 elections.[http://www.clarin.com/diario/2009/04/13/um/m-01896851.htm Clarín: El peronismo disidente y el macrismo, en un encuentro para limar asperezas] {{in lang|es}}

The elections resulted in a setback for the governing, center-left Front for Victory and its allies, which lost their absolute majorities in both houses of Congress.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8123057.stm BBC News: Argentine President set for poll blow] Former President Néstor Kirchner stood as head of the FpV party list in the important Buenos Aires Province. Kirchner's list was defeated, however, by the center-right PRO/Federal Peronism list headed by de Narváez;{{Cite web |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1144590-kirchner-admitio-la-derrota-de-narvaez-gano-en-la-provincia-y-el-oficialismo-perdio-control-en-el-nuevo-congreso |title=La Nación'' |access-date=2020-07-03 |archive-date=2018-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130122115/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1144590-kirchner-admitio-la-derrota-de-narvaez-gano-en-la-provincia-y-el-oficialismo-perdio-control-en-el-nuevo-congreso |url-status=dead }} the loss in Buenos Aires Province, though narrow, was significant as the province had helped maintain Kirchnerism as the dominant force in Argentine politics since 2003.

Federal Peronism emerged from the 2009 mid-term elections with 45 Congressmen and 10 Senators, becoming the fourth and third-largest caucus in each house, respectively.

The alliance began preparations for the 2011 elections by agreeing to a primary election for April 3, thereby uniting behind a single candidate.[http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=567826 Ámbito Financiero: Peronismo Federal fijó fecha de su primera interna: será el 3 de abril] {{in lang|es}} Among the candidates running in the Federal Peronist primary were: former President Eduardo Duhalde; Senators Adolfo Rodríguez Saá, Juan Carlos Romero, and Carlos Reutemann; Congressmen Felipe Solá and Francisco de Narváez; and Governor Mario Das Neves.[http://www.revistadebate.com.ar/2010/08/13/3130.php Revista Debate: Derecha económica y derecha política] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426022657/http://www.revistadebate.com.ar/2010/08/13/3130.php |date=2011-04-26 }} {{in lang|es}} An alliance with PRO was also actively considered;[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1346136-desde-el-peronismo-federal-no-descartan-una-alianza-con-macri Desde el Peronismo Federal no descartan una alianza con Macri], La Nación {{in lang|es}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mdzol.com/mdz/nota/303419-el-pro-y-rodriguez-saa-ya-formalizaron-un-frente-en-mendoza-y-esperan-la-definicion-del-pd/|title=El pro y Rodriguez Saa ya formalizaron un frente en Mendoza|website=mdzol|access-date=2 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803234214/http://www.mdzol.com/mdz/nota/303419-el-pro-y-rodriguez-saa-ya-formalizaron-un-frente-en-mendoza-y-esperan-la-definicion-del-pd|archive-date=3 August 2011}}

Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri expressed unwillingness to accept a running mate from outside PRO ranks, but ultimately withdrew his bid for the presidency.[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1353690-macri-no-me-veo-con-alguien-que-no-sea-de-pro "No me veo con alguien que no sea de Pro"], La Nación

Trailing in the polls ahead of the 2011 elections,[http://ahorainfo.com.ar/2010/11/encuestas-poliarquia-revela-a-una-cristina-imbatible/ Ahora Info: Encuestas. Poliarquía revela a una Cristina imbatible] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402204219/http://ahorainfo.com.ar/2010/11/encuestas-poliarquia-revela-a-una-cristina-imbatible/ |date=2011-04-02 }} {{in lang|es}}[http://www.lacronica.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Internacional/31102010/476569.aspx La Crónica: Cristina Fernández encabeza encuestas para 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713185702/http://www.lacronica.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Internacional/31102010/476569.aspx |date=2011-07-13 }} {{in lang|es}} Federal Peronists remained divided between Duhalde's Popular Front and Alberto Rodríguez Saá's Federal Commitment even after the national August primaries,{{cite news |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/se-recrudece-la-dura-interna-del-peronismo-federal-nid1368569 |title=Rodríguez Saá: "Soy el candidato a presidente por el Peronismo Federal" |trans-title=Rodríguez Saá: "I am the candidate for president for Federal Peronism" |access-date=28 August 2019 |date=26 April 2011 |newspaper=La Nación |language=es}}{{cite web |url=http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/69617/eduardo-duhalde-officially-launches-presidential-campaign |title=Eduardo Duhalde officially launches presidential campaign |work=Buenos Aires Herald}}{{cite web |url=http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/71078/vernet-confirms-he-will-be-rodr%C3%ADguez-sa%C3%A1%E2%80%99s-running-mate |title=Vernet confirms he will be Rodríguez Saá's running mate |work=Buenos Aires Herald}} with Rodríguez Saá attracting upscale voters, and Duhalde, older, mainly working-class voters.{{cite news |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1415547-como-sera-el-voto-a-la-oposicion |title=Cómo será el voto a la oposición |language=es |trans-title=How will the vote for the opposition be? |work=La Nación}} They finished third and fourth place in the October general election with 8% and 6% of the total vote, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://tn.com.ar/politica/interna-del-pj-federal-rodriguez-saa-se-adjudico-la-victoria_053760|title=Interna del PJ Federal: Rodríguez Saá se adjudicó la victoria - TN.com.ar|access-date=28 August 2019|date=17 April 2011|website=Todo Noticias|language=es}}{{cite web|url=http://www.elecciones2011.gov.ar/paginas/paginas/dat99/DPR99999A.htm|title=Elecciones Nacionales 2011 (Presidente)|work=Dirección Nacional Electoral|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906050456/http://www.elecciones2011.gov.ar/paginas/paginas/dat99/DPR99999A.htm|archive-date=2012-09-06}}

Governor José Manuel de la Sota of Córdoba Province formally became a dissident Peronist in September 2012 by establishing a local Justicialist Party faction opposed to Kirchnerism.{{cite web|url=http://www.diariobae.com/diario/2012/09/25/18015-de-la-sota-estrena-su-alianza-peronista-disidente.html|title=De la Sota estrena su alianza peronista disidente|work=Buenos Aires Económico|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121111733/http://www.diariobae.com/diario/2012/09/25/18015-de-la-sota-estrena-su-alianza-peronista-disidente.html|archive-date=2013-01-21}}

Between 2017 and 2019, Federal Peronism sought to consolidate itself as a third force other than the ruling party and Kirchnerism, bringing together several of its members in the Federal Alternative space, led by the Governor of Salta, Juan Manuel Urtubey, the Governor of Cordoba, Juan Schiaretti, the leader of the Renewal Front Sergio Massa, and the Senator for Río Negro, Miguel Ángel Pichetto. After several round trips, and the failure of negotiations between said space and the former Minister of Economy and presidential candidate Roberto Lavagna, Federal Alternative began to crack.

In June 2019, the main references joined other parties: Miguel Ángel Pichetto,{{cite web |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2019/06/11/ahora-en-el-gobierno-hablan-de-una-sorpresa-en-el-vice-de-macri-el-elegido-seria-miguel-angel-pichetto/ |title=Miguel Ángel Pichetto será el vice de Mauricio Macri en la fórmula de Cambiemos |access-date=28 August 2019 |website=Infobae |date=11 June 2019 |language=es-ES}} Adolfo Rodríguez Saá{{cite news |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/rodriguez-saa-se-reunio-macri-se-suma-nid2268938 |title=Rodríguez Saá met with Macri and joins the ruling party in the Congress |access-date=August 28, 2019 |date=July 18, 2019 |newspaper=La Nación |language=es}} and Juan Carlos Romero joined Juntos por el Cambio; Sergio Massa allies joined the Frente de Todos{{cite web |url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/elecciones2019-sergio-massa-confirmo-que-sera-primer-candidato-diputado-nacional-por-frente-de-todos.phtml |title=Sergio Massa confirmed that he will be a candidate for national deputy |access-date=August 28, 2019 |website=www.perfil.com |date=18 June 2019}} and Juan Manuel Urtubey joined Federal Consensus.{{cite news |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/roberto-lavagna-encabezara-formula-presidencial-juan-manuel-nid2257263 |title=Roberto Lavagna will head the formula presidential with Urtubey as vice |access-date=August 28, 2019 |date=June 12, 2019 |newspaper=La Nación |language=en}} Carlos Menem sat in the Frente de Todos in the Senate.

The Federal Peronist option was unable to present an alternative Peronist force to the dominating Kirchnerist one. The victory of the mainstream Peronist forces in the 2019 election resulted in the "dismantling of the Federal Peronism alternative."{{cite journal |title=It's (Almost) Always the Economy: Economic Performance and Political Realignments in Argentina in 2019 |first1=Ana Carolina |last1=Garriga |first2=Juan |last2=Negri |journal=Revista de Ciencia Política |volume=40 |issue=2 |year=2020 |doi=10.4067/S0718-090X2020005000104|doi-access=free |page=152 |quote="As said, his candidacy was severely weakened by the dismantling of the Federal Peronism alternative."}}{{cite journal |title=Peronism Back in Power in Argentina: Economic Crisis and Political Stability |first=Juan M. Abal |last=Medina |journal=Latin American Policy |volume=11 |issue=1 |year=2020 |publisher=Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |page=151 |quote="Thus, the attempt by Federal Peronism, which the previous year saw itself as a consolidated actor, to create a “third alternative” was destroyed." |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lamp.12184}} In 2019, the Peronist dissidents left the Justicialist Party to form the Federal Consensus, which dissolved itself in 2023 and was succeeded by Hacemos por Nuestro País.

Federal Peronism covers various sectors of right or center Peronism.{{cite news|date=22 May 2019|title=El peronismo no kirchnerista busca su destino. Alternativa Federal discute candidaturas que puedan vencer tanto a Cristina Kirchner como a Macri en las generales de octubre en Argentina|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2019/05/22/argentina/1558546556_461412.html|work=El País |last1=Molina |first1=Federico Rivas }}{{cite web|date=15 October 2020|first=Juan José|last=Domínguez|title=Alejandro "Topo" Rodríguez: No se puede construir nada a futuro con impronta macrista. El referente de Roberto Lavagna en el Congreso analiza el futuro del peronismo no kirchnerista, espacio del que también forma parte Hacemos por Córdoba|url=https://www.lavoz.com.ar/politica/alejandro-topo-rodriguez-no-se-puede-construir-nada-a-futuro-con-impronta-macrista/|work=La Voz}} Federal Peronism lacks a coherent ideology and fails to stand out from, Cambiemos coalition, particularly on economic grounds. Federal Peronism is overall more social conservative than Kirchnerism while still following the Peronist tenets of economic nationalism and social justice.{{cite journal |title=It's (Almost) Always the Economy: Economic Performance and Political Realignments in Argentina in 2019 |first1=Ana Carolina |last1=Garriga |first2=Juan |last2=Negri |journal=Revista de Ciencia Política |volume=40 |issue=2 |year=2020 |pages=137–161 |doi=10.4067/S0718-090X2020005000104|doi-access=free }}

The movement represents first and foremost the diverse interests of state-level Peronist activists and leaders, who stay in opposition to Kirchnerism. Electorally, the goal of Federal Peronism was to prevent voters disaffected with Kirchnerism from defecting to anti-Peronist parties and present itself as a "third-way" candidacy that would maintain the diverse support bases of the Peronist movement. In comparison to Kirchnerism, Federal Peronism puts an emphasis on more republican and less populist values, and focuses more on regionalist and decentralist causes. It seeks to represent "Peronism before Kirchnerism" and promotes Peronist features that the movement had before being "re-founded" by Kirchnerism,{{cite journal |title=Phases of Kirchnerism: from rupture to particularistic assertion |journal=Convergencia Revista de Ciencias Sociales |volume=74 |issue=1 |year=2017 |publisher=Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México |issn=2448-5799 |first=Francisco J. |last=Cantamutto}} which restored Peronism to the left-wing orientation it had under Juan Perón.{{cite book |title=Social Movements and Leftist Governments in Latin America: Confrontation or Co-optation? |quote="In 2003 Néstor Kirchner was elected president in Argentina on a political platform that returned the Peronist Justice Party to its traditional centerleft stance following a long detour to centerright neoliberalism under Carlos Menem; this leftward tilt was validated by the election of Cristina Kirchner in 2007." |first1=Gary |last1=Prevost |first2=Carlos Oliva |last2=Campos |first3=Harry E. |last3=Vanden |isbn=978-1780321837 |publisher=Zed Books |year=2012 |page=9}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Conservatism}}

{{Peronism}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Federal Peronism}}

Category:2005 establishments in Argentina

Category:Conservatism in Argentina

Category:Justicialist Party

Category:Liberal conservatism

Category:National conservatism

Category:Peronist parties and alliances in Argentina

Category:Political parties in Argentina

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Category:Political parties established in 2005

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