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The '''Olivos Pact''' ({{lang-es|'''Pacto de Olivos'''}}) refers to a series of documents signed on November 17, 1993, between the governing [[President of Argentina|President]] of [[Argentina]], [[Carlos Menem]], and former President and leader of the opposition [[Radical Civic Union|UCR]], [[Raúl Alfonsín]], that formed the basis of the [[1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution|constitutional reform of 1994]]. These memoranda of understanding were signed in the official presidential residence, the [[Quinta de Olivos]].
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Before that constitutional reform, the presidential mandate had a length of six years, and a president could not have two consecutive terms. In an attempt to remain in power, Menem negotiated with Alfonsín for support in calling for constitutional reform and the re-election clause. In exchange, among other points, the government would grant autonomy to the city of [[Buenos Aires]], which would have its own [[Buenos Aires City Hall|magistrature]].
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In spite of opposition from different sectors, particularly within Alfonsín's own UCR, the constitutional reform took place mostly as expected by Menem and Alfonsín, with Menem winning [[Argentine general election, 1995|re-election]] as President in 1995, followed by UCR Senator [[Fernando de la Rúa]]'s election as Mayor of Buenos Aires in 1996.
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| footer = [[Carlos Menem]] (''left'') and [[Raúl Alfonsín]] (''right'') agreed a number of points for the [[1994 amendment of the Constitution of Argentina]]
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The '''Olivos Pact''' ({{lang-es|'''Pacto de Olivos'''}}) refers to a series of documents signed on November 17, 1993, between the governing [[President of Argentina|President]] of [[Argentina]], [[Carlos Menem]], and former President and leader of the opposition [[Radical Civic Union|UCR]], [[Raúl Alfonsín]], that formed the basis of the [[1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution|constitutional reform of 1994]]. These memorandum of understanding were signed in the official presidential residence, the [[Quinta de Olivos]].

==Context==
[[Raúl Alfonsín]] was the president of Argentina for the [[Radical Civic Union]] (UCR) from 1983 to 1989, and resigned during an economic crisis. [[Carlos Menem]], from the [[Justicialist Party]] (PJ), was elected in 1989. The [[Convertibility plan]] ended the economic crisis and increased his popularity, allowing the PJ to win the [[1991 Argentine legislative election|1991]] and [[1993 Argentine legislative election|1993]] midterm elections. The presidential [[term of office]] was of six years, with no reelection. Menem sought to change that with an [[amendment]] to the [[Constitution of Argentina]]. For this he would require a [[supermajority]] of two thirds of both houses of the [[Argentine Congress]]. Although that was a feasible option at the [[Argentine Senate|Senate]], it was a remote possibility at the [[Argentine Chamber of Deputies|Chamber of Deputies]]. Menem sought creative alternatives for that, such as a [[legal technicality]] that the requirement would be two thirds of the legislators present at the Congress during the session instead of two thirds of the complete body (and thus exploit circumstances where opposing legislators may be absent). Radical governors such as [[Carlos Maestro]] and [[Horacio Massaccesi]] commented that they would not oppose an amendment approved that way.<ref name="veinte">{{cite web |url= http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201311/40572-se-cumplen-20-anos-de-pacto-de-olivos-que-permitio-la-reforma-constitucional-del-94.html|title= Se cumplen 20 años del Pacto de Olivos que permitió la reforma constitucional del '94|trans-title=It's 20 years from the Pact of Olivos that allowed the constitutional amendment of the '94|language= Spanish|author= Roberto Lago|date= November 14, 2013|publisher= Telam|accessdate=November 10, 2016}}</ref>

==Agreed terms==
Political agents of Menem and Alfonsín met in secret and negotiated some points. Both leaders met personally in secret, on November 4, 1993. Alfonsín accepted to instruct the radical legislators to support the amendment, and allow the presidential re-election for a single period. In exchange, the PJ agreed on a number of proposals by Alfonsín, to reduce the political clout of the president and the ruling political party. The presidential term of office was reduced to four years. The senate would be composed by two senators for the victor party at each province and one for the next party; instead of only a senator for the victor. The judges would be controlled by the [[Council of Magistracy of the Nation]], a body that would include members of the opposition. The capital city of [[Buenos Aires]], a [[federal district]] with a mayor appointed by the president, would become an [[autonomous administrative division]] with its own elected mayor; as a traditional anti-Peronist district it was expected that such a mayor would be radical.<ref name="veinte"/>

Menem, however, did not accept a turn into a [[semi-presidential system]] or even into a [[parliamentary republic]], as proposed by Alfonsín. The proposed [[prime minister]] office was demoted into the [[Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers]], a minister with higher political clout than the others, but still less than that of a prime minister. As a [[populist]] leader, Menem refused to give up the political clout of the presidentialist system.<ref name="veinte"/> Menem also agreed to include a [[ballotage in Argentina|ballotage]] system, but with complex conditions.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.infobae.com/2015/11/22/1764701-breve-historia-del-ballotage-la-argentina/|title= Breve historia del ballotage en la Argentina|trans-title=Brief history of ballotage in Argentina|language= Spanish|author= Juan Pablo Bustos Thames|date= November 22, 2015|publisher= Infobae|accessdate=November 10, 2016}}</ref>

==Consequences==
Both parties gave their blessing to the pact. Congress approved it on December 29, 1993, and the executive power promulgated it the same day. This called for elections the following years, for members of the constituent assembly for the [[1994 amendment of the Constitution of Argentina]]. The contents of the pact were approved, and Menem ran and won the re-election in the [[1995 Argentine general election|1995 presidential election]].<ref name="veinte" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.todo-argentina.net/historia/democracia/menem1/1993.html Todo argentina: Historia Argentina, La democracia, Año 1993 , La presidencia de Menem (1989-1995)] {{es icon}}
*[http://www.todo-argentina.net/historia/democracia/menem1/1993.html Todo argentina: Historia Argentina, La democracia, Año 1993, La presidencia de Menem (1989-1995)] {{in lang|es}}

{{Raúl Alfonsín}}
{{Carlos Menem}}
{{Peronism}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Presidency of Carlos Menem]]
[[Category:Presidency of Carlos Menem]]
[[Category:Politics of Argentina]]
[[Category:Political history of Argentina]]
[[Category:1993 in Argentina]]
[[Category:1993 in Argentina]]
[[Category:1993 documents]]

{{Argentina-hist-stub}}

Revision as of 22:32, 11 July 2024

Carlos Menem (left) and Raúl Alfonsín (right) agreed a number of points for the 1994 amendment of the Constitution of Argentina

The Olivos Pact (Spanish: Pacto de Olivos) refers to a series of documents signed on November 17, 1993, between the governing President of Argentina, Carlos Menem, and former President and leader of the opposition UCR, Raúl Alfonsín, that formed the basis of the constitutional reform of 1994. These memorandum of understanding were signed in the official presidential residence, the Quinta de Olivos.

Context

Raúl Alfonsín was the president of Argentina for the Radical Civic Union (UCR) from 1983 to 1989, and resigned during an economic crisis. Carlos Menem, from the Justicialist Party (PJ), was elected in 1989. The Convertibility plan ended the economic crisis and increased his popularity, allowing the PJ to win the 1991 and 1993 midterm elections. The presidential term of office was of six years, with no reelection. Menem sought to change that with an amendment to the Constitution of Argentina. For this he would require a supermajority of two thirds of both houses of the Argentine Congress. Although that was a feasible option at the Senate, it was a remote possibility at the Chamber of Deputies. Menem sought creative alternatives for that, such as a legal technicality that the requirement would be two thirds of the legislators present at the Congress during the session instead of two thirds of the complete body (and thus exploit circumstances where opposing legislators may be absent). Radical governors such as Carlos Maestro and Horacio Massaccesi commented that they would not oppose an amendment approved that way.[1]

Agreed terms

Political agents of Menem and Alfonsín met in secret and negotiated some points. Both leaders met personally in secret, on November 4, 1993. Alfonsín accepted to instruct the radical legislators to support the amendment, and allow the presidential re-election for a single period. In exchange, the PJ agreed on a number of proposals by Alfonsín, to reduce the political clout of the president and the ruling political party. The presidential term of office was reduced to four years. The senate would be composed by two senators for the victor party at each province and one for the next party; instead of only a senator for the victor. The judges would be controlled by the Council of Magistracy of the Nation, a body that would include members of the opposition. The capital city of Buenos Aires, a federal district with a mayor appointed by the president, would become an autonomous administrative division with its own elected mayor; as a traditional anti-Peronist district it was expected that such a mayor would be radical.[1]

Menem, however, did not accept a turn into a semi-presidential system or even into a parliamentary republic, as proposed by Alfonsín. The proposed prime minister office was demoted into the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, a minister with higher political clout than the others, but still less than that of a prime minister. As a populist leader, Menem refused to give up the political clout of the presidentialist system.[1] Menem also agreed to include a ballotage system, but with complex conditions.[2]

Consequences

Both parties gave their blessing to the pact. Congress approved it on December 29, 1993, and the executive power promulgated it the same day. This called for elections the following years, for members of the constituent assembly for the 1994 amendment of the Constitution of Argentina. The contents of the pact were approved, and Menem ran and won the re-election in the 1995 presidential election.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Roberto Lago (November 14, 2013). "Se cumplen 20 años del Pacto de Olivos que permitió la reforma constitucional del '94" [It's 20 years from the Pact of Olivos that allowed the constitutional amendment of the '94] (in Spanish). Telam. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  2. ^ Juan Pablo Bustos Thames (November 22, 2015). "Breve historia del ballotage en la Argentina" [Brief history of ballotage in Argentina] (in Spanish). Infobae. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
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