(27 Oct 1997) Spanish/Nat
The Argentine opposition handed President Carlos Menem's Peronist party its first nationwide defeat in a decade by appealing to voters tired of corruption and eager for social reform.
The centre-left Alliance eroded the Peronist Party's majority in congress, leaving them with the prospect of working closely with the opposition for the final two years of Menem's administration.
The Peronist Party of President Carlos Menem may have won its admirers for reversing decades of economic decline in Argentina, but the people have had enough.
The party has been stripped of its majority in the lower house of Congress.
With votes from 98 per cent of the country's voting precincts counted by early Monday, the two parties forming The Alliance - the centrist Civic Radical Union and the left-leaning Frepaso coalition - had 45.7 per cent of the vote, compared to 36.2 per cent for the Peronists.
The Peronists lost 13 seats, leaving them with 118 and The Alliance with 110.
This leaves the balance of power with small provincial parties.
There were celebrations throughout Argentina as the results became known.
In Buenos Aires the Mayor applauded the result.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We have won the battle of democracy throughout the whole country. It has consisted of the triumph of the entire opposition. The Alliance with all the parties have had a triumph with the Union Civica Radicale and Trepasa included."
SUPER CAPTION: Mayor of Buenos Aires, Fernando de la Rua, Union Civica Radicale
And there was no doubting the support of those gathered to hear his message.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"The non-union party have given us a historic day giving us a resonating triumph over the principal bastion of the official party. Graciella really we say thank you for the campaign you carried out."
SUPER CAPTION: Mayor of Buenos Aires, Fernando de la Rua, Union Civica Radicale
Buenos Aires is a key province containing 37 percent of Argentina's 23 (m) million voters.
The Alliance's most impressive victory was in that province, where Mrs. Fernandez Meijide confirmed her credentials as a presidential candidate in 1999, by beating the wife of powerful Gov. Eduardo Duhalde 48.2 percent to 41.3.
In her victory speech, Meijide stated that the Alliance would help ensure a smooth last two years in power for Menem.
And she thanked the people of Argentina for their support.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I want to take advantage of these microphones and cameras and all of you to thank every woman and man who voted in this country. It doesn't matter what candidate they voted for, they voted for justice, for education, for jobs, for security."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Graciella Fernandez Meijide, Trepaso Party
The government will still control the Senate, which was not up for election.
The Alliance appears to have benefited from an electorate no longer scared of change and eager for progress on social issues.
President Menem's Peronist Party managed to beat-off hyperinflation and fuel growth with their free-market policies.
But voters appear to have grown impatient with the social cost of that turnaround, including 16 per cent unemployment.
In a message to the nation recorded shortly before voting ended, President Menem stated he would govern in his last two years with the same faith and the same pioneering spirit.
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