Radical Civic Union

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Template:Politicsboxend The Radical Civic Union (Unión Cívica Radical, or UCR) is the foremost opposition party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International.

After the 2001 elections it became the second largest party in the federal Chamber of Deputies, winning 71 of 257 seats. It campaigned in an alliance with the smaller, more leftist Front for a Country in Solidarity (FREPASO).

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History

The Unión Cívica Radical (UCR) is the oldest existing political party in Argentina. It was founded in 1891 by radical liberals and held power for 27 years. For many years the party was either in opposition to Peronist governments or illegal during military rule.

The party was a spin-off of the Union Civica, which was led by Bartolome Mitre and Leandro Alem The party unsuccessfully led an attempt to force the early departure of President Miguel Juarez Celman in the "Revolución del Parque." Eventually a compromise was reached with Juárez' government. Hard-liners who opposed this agreement founded the current UCR. With the introduction of free, fair and secret elections based on universal suffrage in 1912 the Party manage to win the general elections of 1916, when Hipólito Yrigoyen became president.

Between 1983 and 1989 its leader, Raúl Alfonsin, was the first democratically elected president after the military dictatorship headed by generals such as Jorge Videla, Leopoldo Galtieri and Reynaldo Bignone. Alfonsín was succeeded by Carlos Menem of the Peronist Justicialist Party (PJ).

In 1997 the UCR participated in elections in coalition with FREPASO, which is itself an alliance of many smaller parties. This strategy brought Fernando de la Rúa to the presidency in the 1999 elections. During major riots triggered by economic reforms implemented by the UCR government (with the advice of the International Monetary Fund), President de la Rúa resigned and fled the country to prevent further turmoil. After three consecutive acting presidents assumed duties in the following weeks, Eduardo Duhalde of the PJ took office until new elections could be held.

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