Broad Front UNEN
Broad Front UNEN (Spanish: Frente Amplio UNEN) was an center-left[6] political coalition in Argentina. It arose through an alliance between Radical Civic Union, Civic Coalition ARI, Proyecto Sur, Freemen of the South Movement, Socialist Party, Authentic Socialist Party, and GEN.
Broad Front UNEN Frente Amplio UNEN | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | FAUNEN |
| President | Fernando Solanas[1] |
| Founded | June 13, 2013 (as an electoral alliance) April 22, 2014 (recognized as a political coalition) |
| Dissolved | March 15, 2015 (after the UCR's National convention) |
| Preceded by | Broad Progressive Front |
| Succeeded by | Cambiemos (UCR, CC-ARI) Progresistas (PS, PSA, GEN, LDS) |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Ideology | Progressivism[2][3] Social liberalism[4] Social democracy[5] Third Way Left-wing nationalism |
| Political position | Centre-left[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] |
| Colours | Light Green, Skyblue, Red, & Pink |
| Members | Radical Civic Union Civic Coalition ARI Project South Socialist Party Authentic Socialist Party Generation for a National Encounter Freemen of the South Civic Front of Córdoba |
| Website | |
The name UNEN is an acronym of "Unión y Encuentro" (Spanish: Unity and meeting).[14]
Founded in April 2014, the purpose of the coalition was to unite the parties that oppose Peronism and Kirchnerism in a single entity, but the inclusion of the center-right party Republican Proposal was a controversial topic among the parties.[3][9][11][15]
History edit
The coalition was composed of several parties. The Broad Progressive Front was a socialist coalition that placed second in the 2011 Argentine general election, with the candidate Hermes Binner. UNEN was another coalition created in the 2013 Argentine legislative election, composed by the Radical Civic Union, Proyecto Sur, and the Civic Coalition ARI. With the candidates Pino Solanas and Elisa Carrió running for the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, respectively, UNEN placed second in the city of Buenos Aires, forcing Daniel Filmus (the candidate of the national government) into third place, thus ousting him from Senate.[9]
The Broad Front UNEN coalition had its inauguration at the Argentine Broadway Theatre. Radical politician Luis Brandoni announced the content of the constitution document, which was then signed by the leaders of the parties.[9]
The coalition includes most Argentine parties that are not Peronist. The likely Peronist candidates for the 2015 presidential election are Daniel Scioli, governor of the Buenos Aires province; Sergio Massa, elected deputy in 2013; and other candidates sponsored by the national government such as Sergio Urribarri and Florencio Randazzo.[16]
There was some controversy about the inclusion of the Republican Proposal, led by Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri, in the coalition. Macri's support would be needed to counter the powerful Peronist parties, but he is a conservative and most parties in the coalition are left-wing or centre-left.[9] As of April 2014, Solanas, Margarita Stolbizer, and Ricardo Alfonsín rejected to join forces with Macri, whereas Carrió and other radicals did not reject the idea.[17] Macri ruled out an electoral alliance, but proposed instead to find consensus for national policies after the elections.[18]
The inauguration of the provincial wing of UNEN for the Buenos Aires Province, the largest province of Argentina, is scheduled for May 22, one month after the general national inauguration. It will take place at the National University of Avellaneda. The likely candidates for governor of the Buenos Aires province are Facundo Manes, Héctor Gutiérrez, Miguel Bazze, Gerardo Milman, Sergio Buil, Sebastián Cinquerrui and Mario Cafiero.[19] Elisa Carrió has commented that she may run for governor instead of president, but dismissed the idea later.[20] The coalition also intends to make a meeting on May 24 at the house of the 1852 San Nicolás Agreement, but the place is owned by the ministry of culture of the province, currently under the Kirchnerite rule of Scioli. So far, it has not given authorization for the event.[21]
Policies edit
UNEN opposed the nationalization of the Navy Petty-Officers School of Mechanics, which is under the jurisdiction of the city of Buenos Aires. A press release from UNEN described the handover as "illegal and arbitrary".[22]
They also proposed a reduction to the income tax, which was not updated according to the high inflation, but the Kirchnerite legislators retired from Congress to prevent the minimum quorum.[23]
Member parties edit
| Party | Leader | Ideology | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist Party | Hermes Binner | Social democracy, democratic socialism | Centre-left | |
| Authentic Socialist Party | Mario Mazzitelli | Social democracy, democratic socialism | Left-wing | |
| Freemen of the South Movement | Humberto Tumini | Progressivism | Centre-left | |
| Radical Civic Union | Ernesto Sanz | Liberalism | Center Factions: Centre-left to centre-right | |
| Generation for a National Encounter | Margarita Stolbizer | Social democracy | Centre-left | |
| Proyecto Sur | Fernando Solanas | Progressivism, left-wing nationalism | Centre-left to left-wing | |
Former members edit
| Party | Leader | Ideology | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Front of Córdoba | Luis Juez | Córdoba regionalism | Center | |
| Coalición Cívica ARI | Elisa Carrió | Social liberalism | Center | |
2013 election and nationwide replication edit
In the October 2013 legislative election, alliances of UCR, CC-ARI, PS and other centre-left parties (mainly components of the 2011 Broad Progressive Front) ran in most provinces, usually under the name of the Progressive, Civic and Social Front. In the city of Buenos Aires, an analogous alliance was called UNEN, in Chaco Union for Chaco, in Jujuy Jujuyan Front, in Catamarca Civic and Social Front and in Santa Cruz Front Let's Change for Growth. In Córdoba, Mendoza and Entre Rios, however, the UCR ran separately from the rest of the centre-left opposition.
2015 elections edit
Opinion polls made by Poliarquía in April 2014 revealed that UNEN may be fourth in the electoral preferences, behind Massa, Scioli and Macri. The study shows as well that the four parties may be having very close electoral preferences. Eduardo Fidanza, director of Poliarquía, suggested that UNEN may be fourth in the electoral preferences because, unlike the other candidates, the coalition does not have an obvious political leader, and may increase its chances after the primary elections.[24]
The poll asked as well a preferred candidate of UNEN to those who may vote for the coalition. There was a tie between Hermes Binner and Julio Cobos, followed by Elisa Carrió.[24]
Break up edit
Elisa Carrió was the first to leave the coalition, making instead an alliance with Macri and running in the primary elections against him. Hermes Binner declined his presidential candidacy, to focus on keeping the Santa Fe province for the socialist party. The Radical Civic Union made a congress to decide the candidacies and alliances, and appointed Sanz as the candidate to run against Macri. Cobos accepted the result of the discussion and declined his candidacy.
Electoral history edit
Congressional elections edit
Chamber of Deputies edit
| Election year | votes | % | seats won | Total seats | Position | Presidency | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5,460,861 | 23.81 | 34 | 61 / 257 | Minority | Cristina Fernández (FPV—PJ) |
Senate elections edit
| Election year | votes | % | seats won | Total seats | Position | Presidency | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1,356,419 | 26.37 | 3 | 19 / 72 | Minority | Cristina Fernández (FPV—PJ) |
References edit
- ^ De 2014, 8 De Enero (22 November 2017). "Con críticas al Gobierno y a Macri, UNEN designó a Solanas como presidente del espacio". Infobae.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Hermes Binner aseguró que el Frente Amplio UNEN "quiere ser parte de la transformación" del país".
- ^ a b "El ala izquierda del Frente Amplio UNEN resiste una alianza con Macri". 23 November 2017.
- ^ "Se presentó el frente UNEN".
- ^ "Losteau, ya enfrente de la centroizquierda porteña: "Soy un socialdemócrata moderno"".
- ^ a b Peregil, Francisco (22 April 2014). "Una gran coalición de centro izquierda desafía al peronismo". El País.
- ^ Peregil, Francisco (19 November 2014). "Una dimisión fractura la coalición de centroizquierda contra el peronismo". El País.
- ^ "La centroizquierda lanzó su frente y se metió en la pelea presidencial". 23 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "A centre-left broad front is born in Argentina as "a government alternative"". MercoPress. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Los cinco presidenciables de UNEN se mostraron entre ironías y un rechazo a Macri". 23 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Página/12 :: Ultimas Noticias :: El límite del interbloque de centroizquierda sigue siendo Macri".
- ^ "Página/12 :: El país :: Una alianza que pierde socios".
- ^ "Página/12 :: El país :: Juntos pero hasta ahí".
- ^ James Neilson. [UNEN, the great progressist hope] (in Spanish). Noticias. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Página/12 :: El país :: "Rompió el espacio"".
- ^ "Argentine broad front opens possibility of runoff dispute in 2015 presidential election". MercoPress. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "Broad Front UNEN leaders slam PRO links". Buenos Aires Herald. April 21, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ^ "Macri rules out agreement with Broad Front-UNEN". Buenos Aires Herald. April 24, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ^ "Lanzarán el 22 de mayo la versión bonaerense del Frente UNEN" [The wing of the Broad Front UNEN for the Buenos Aires province will be launched on May 22]. La Nación (in Spanish). May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ "Tras el amague, Carrió dice que no competirá en Provincia" [After the suggestion, Carrió says that she will not run in the Province] (in Spanish). Clarín. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ "Los precandidatos del Frente Amplio UNEN se vuelven a juntar en San Nicolás" [The precandidates of the Board Front UNEN meet again at San Nicolás]. La Nación (in Spanish). May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ "Broad Front UNEN present constitutional protection over ex-ESMA". Buenos Aires Herald. May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ "Diputados: la oposición denunció que el oficialismo no dio quórum para debatir el Impuesto a las ganancias" [Deputies: the opposition denounced that the officialism denied quorum to discuss the income tax]. La Nación (in Spanish). May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ a b "En un escenario muy fragmentado, Massa lidera las preferencias electorales" [Massa leads the electoral preferences in a highly fragmented scenario]. La Nación (in Spanish). April 13, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
External links edit
- Official website (in Spanish)