1984 Argentine Beagle conflict dispute resolution referendum

1984 Argentine Beagle conflict dispute resolution referendum
25 November 1984
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.
Ballots used in the referendum.
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 10,454,172 82.60%
No 2,201,963 17.40%
Valid votes 12,656,135 98.40%
Invalid or blank votes 205,220 1.60%
Total votes 12,861,355 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 18,350,863 70.09%
Percentage of "Yes" votes by province
Beagle conflict
Background
Events

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 Raúl Alfonsín declared that he would respect the outcome of the vote. The proposal was approved by 82.6% of voters, with a turnout of 70%.

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]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For10,454,17282.60
Against2,201,96317.40
Total12,656,135100.00
Valid votes12,656,13598.40
Invalid votes64,0990.50
Blank votes141,1211.10
Total votes12,861,355100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,350,86370.09
Source: Dirección Nacional Electoral

By province

Province Yes No Invalid/
blank 		Total Registered
voters 		Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Buenos Aires 4,237,251 80.94 997,831 19.06 76,303 5,311,385 6,758,336 78.59
Buenos Aires City 1,311,387 81.67 294,281 18.33 22,209 1,627,877 2,418,933 67.30
Catamarca 64,041 95.06 3,330 4.94 794 68,165 133,814 50.94
Chaco 220,716 83.13 44,793 16.87 5,028 270,537 408,058 66.30
Chubut 93,833 83.04 19,170 16.96 1,255 114,258 158,863 71.92
Córdoba 1,027,223 88.80 129,599 11.20 22,804 1,179,626 1,669,715 70.65
Corrientes 232,864 85.08 40,840 14.92 3,949 277,653 448,418 61.92
Entre Ríos 345,970 86.85 52,402 13.15 11,034 409,406 623,297 65.68
Formosa 88,604 86.91 13,342 13.09 1,892 103,838 170,978 70.73
Jujuy 99,385 84.25 18,575 15.75 2,146 120,106 225,743 53.20
La Pampa 84,148 94.56 4,837 5.44 1,668 90,653 149,557 60.61
La Rioja 31,486 90.44 3,329 9.56 434 35,249 42,861 82.24
Mendoza 376,821 66.72 187,999 33.28 8,592 573,412 768,608 74.60
Misiones 191,828 83.68 37,413 16.32 5,806 235,047 336,376 69.88
Neuquén 96,282 87.56 13,682 12.44 1,224 111,188 147,090 75.59
Río Negro 132,203 87.46 18,960 12.54 2,686 153,849 209,082 73.58
Salta 193,894 75.25 63,785 24.75 4,061 261,740 403,441 64.88
San Juan 162,886 89.11 19,906 10.89 2,193 184,985 292,777 63.18
San Luis 85,514 89.43 10,105 10.57 1,273 96,892 151,486 63.96
Santa Cruz 30,232 78.21 8,422 21.79 372 39,026 56,018 69.67
Santa Fe 901,943 87.22 132,142 12.78 20,341 1,054,426 1,721,825 61.24
Santiago del Estero 137,491 86.69 21,106 13.31 3,512 162,109 402,003 40.33
Tierra del Fuego 9,682 59.77 6,516 40.23 150 16,348 20,685 79.03
Tucumán 298,488 83.36 59,598 16.64 5,494 363,580 632,899 57.45
Total 10,454,172 82.60 2,201,963 17.40 205,220 12,861,355 18,350,863 70.09

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]

See also

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. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804736558. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  4. ^ Carlos Ares (26 November 1984). "Los argentinos refrendan con mayoría holgada el acuerdo con Chile sobre Beagle". El País. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  5. ^ Las relaciones con los países latinoamericanos, Las relaciones con Chile Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Carlos Escudé and Andrés Cisneros