Argentine Beagle conflict dispute resolution referendum, 1984

Last updated
Beagle conflict dispute resolution referendum
Conformity (or disconformity) of the citizen with the terms of the conclusion of the negotiations with the Republic of Chile to resolve the dispute concerning the area of the Beagle Channel.
Referendum sobre el conflicto del Canal Beagle - SI.jpg
Referendum sobre el conflicto del Canal Beagle - NO.jpg
Ballots used in the referendum.
Location Argentina
Date 25 November 1984 (1984-11-25)
Results
Votes %
Yes check.svgYes10,454,17282.60%
X mark.svgNo 2,201,96317.40%
Valid votes 12,656,13598.40%
Invalid or blank votes 205,2201.6%
Total votes12,861,355100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 18,350,86370.09%
Results by province
Resultados del referendum argentino de 1984.png
Percentage of YES votes

A non-binding referendum on resolving the Beagle conflict was held in Argentina on 25 November 1984. [1] Voters were asked whether they approved of the government's negotiated settlement with Chile, which would result in Argentina recognising the Picton, Lennox and Nueva islands as being Chilean territory. Although the plebiscite was not binding, President Raul Alfonsin declared that he would respect the outcome of the vote. The proposal was approved by 82.6% of voters, with a turnout of 70%.

Beagle conflict conflict

The Beagle conflict was a border dispute between Chile and Argentina over the possession of Picton, Lennox and Nueva islands and the scope of the maritime jurisdiction associated with those islands that brought the countries to the brink of war in 1978.

Argentina federal republic in South America

Argentina, officially named the Argentine Republic, is a country located mostly in the southern half of South America. Sharing the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, the country is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. With a mainland area of 2,780,400 km2 (1,073,500 sq mi), Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, the fourth largest in the Americas, and the largest Spanish-speaking nation. The sovereign state is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city, Buenos Aires, which is the federal capital of the nation as decided by Congress. The provinces and the capital have their own constitutions, but exist under a federal system. Argentina claims sovereignty over part of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina Argentina-Chile border treaty

The Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina was signed into agreement at the Vatican on 29 November 1984.

Contents

Background

The ruling party, the Radical Civic Union, called for a vote in favor of the settlement. The opposition, headed by the Justicialist Party, boycotted the process, claiming that it distracted from economic problems. [2] Some opponents, including Herminio Iglesias, called for voters to participate in the referendum and vote against. In contrast, other leaders like Carlos Menem came out in favour of the settlement. [3] The right-wing, including military groups that ruled Argentina between 1976 and 1983, were also against the settlement. [4]

Radical Civic Union Argentine political party

The Radical Civic Union is a centrist social-liberal political party in Argentina. The party has been ideologically heterogeneous, ranging from classical liberalism to social democracy. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International.

Justicialist Party Argentine political party

The Justicialist Party, or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.

Herminio Iglesias Argentine politician

Herminio Iglesias was an Argentine politician.

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For10,454,17282.60
Against2,201,96317.40
Invalid/blank votes205,220
Total12,861,355100
Registered voters/turnout18,350,86370.09
Source: DINE

By province

Province For Against Invalid/
blank
Total Registered
voters
Turnout
Votes%Votes%
Buenos Aires 4,237,25180.94997,83119.0676,3035,311,3856,758,33678.59
Buenos Aires City 1,311,38781.67294,28118.3322,2091,627,8772,418,93367.30
Catamarca 64,04195.063,3304.9479468,165133,81450.94
Chaco 220,71683.1344,79316.875,028270,537408,05866.30
Chubut 93,83383.0419,17016.961,255114,258158,86371.92
Córdoba 1,027,22388.80129,59911.2022,8041,179,6261,669,71570.65
Corrientes 232,86485.0840,84014.923,949277,653448,41861.92
Entre Ríos 345,97086.8552,40213.1511,034409,406623,29765.68
Formosa 88,60486.9113,34213.091,892103,838170,97870.73
Jujuy 99,38584.2518,57515.752,146120,106225,74353.20
La Pampa 84,14894.564,8375.441,66890,653149,55760.61
La Rioja 31,48690.443,3299.5643435,24942,86182.24
Mendoza 376,82166.72187,99933.288,592573,412768,60874.60
Misiones 191,82883.6837,41316.325,806235,047336,37669.88
Neuquén 96,28287.5613,68212.441,224111,188147,09075.59
Río Negro 132,20387.4618,96012.542,686153,849209,08273.58
Salta 193,89475.2563,78524.754,061261,740403,44164.88
San Juan 162,88689.1119,90610.892,193184,985292,77763.18
San Luis 85,51489.4310,10510.571,27396,892151,48663.96
Santa Cruz 30,23278.218,42221.7937239,02656,01869.67
Santa Fe 901,94387.22132,14212.7820,3411,054,4261,721,82561.24
Santiago del Estero 137,49186.6921,10613.313,512162,109402,00340.33
Tierra del Fuego 9,68259.776,51640.2315016,34820,68579.03
Tucumán 298,48883.3659,59816.645,494363,580632,89957.45
Total10,454,17282.602,201,96317.40205,22012,861,35518,350,86370.09

Aftermath

Despite the overwhelming support from voters, the Argentine National Congress only approved the treaty on 14 March 1985 by a vote of 23–22, with one abstention. [5]

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References

  1. Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p67 ISBN   978-0-19-928358-3
  2. UPI (26 November 1984). "Beagle Channel Treaty Approved in Argentina". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  3. James W. McGuire (1 February 1999). "The rise and fall of Renewal Peronism". Peronism Without Peron: Unions, Parties, and Democracy in Argentina. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  4. Carlos Ares (26 November 1984). "Los argentinos refrendan con mayoría holgada el acuerdo con Chile sobre Beagle". Diario El País. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  5. Las relaciones con los países latinoamericanos, Las relaciones con Chile Carlos Escudé and Andrés Cisneros