Great Front
Encyclopedia
The Broad Front is a left-wing
political party in Argentina most prominent in the 1990s.
The party was set up by a group of left-wing Justicialist Party
members of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
, most notably Carlos Álvarez, and other left-wingers who were annoyed at the neo-liberal policies of President
Carlos Menem
, including dissident Christian Democrats
led by Carlos Auyero
and also figures such as Graciela Fernández Meijide
. In 1990 the rebel Justicialists, having formed FredeJuSo, came together with the Communist Party of Argentina
and others in a loose coalition. Álvarez proposed forming a unified party and dissolving the constituent members, thus automatically excluding the Communists, who left.
In May 1993 they joined with Frente del Sur, a party set up by film-maker Pino Solanas, to form the Frente Grande. In the 1993 elections, the party's list in the city of Buenos Aires
gained 38% of the vote and several deputies were elected around the country, including Álvarez, Meijide and Solanas. Solanas left the party a short while later over personal differences.
In spring 1994, Álvarez led the Frente Grande into a new alliance, creating the Front for a Country in Solidarity
(FrePaSo). FrePaSo would continue the success of the Frente Grande and propel Álvarez to be vice-president of the country. The Frente Grande continued to be a force in Buenos Aires politics, but has become largely marginalised with the collapse of FrePaSo; its members have largely joined the new Support for an Egalitarian Republic
(ARI) party or returned to the Peronists under centre-left Presidents Néstor Kirchner
and his wife and successor Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
.
What remained of the Front swung behind the Kirchners' ruling Front for Victory
. At the 2005 legislative elections, however, some sections of the Front joined the Encuentro Amplio
with other left-wing parties in Buenos Aires
and Buenos Aires Province
. The coalition did badly and lost its existing national representation. In 2007, members of the Front including María José Bongiorno
were elected as part of the Front for Victory. Of its leading figures, Nilda Garré
serves as Minister of Defense and party leader Eduardo Sigal is a junior official in the sub-secretariat of American Economic Integration and Mercosur
.
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
political party in Argentina most prominent in the 1990s.
The party was set up by a group of left-wing Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
members of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
, most notably Carlos Álvarez, and other left-wingers who were annoyed at the neo-liberal policies of President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
, including dissident Christian Democrats
Christian Democratic Party (Argentina)
The Christian Democratic Party is a Christian Democrat political party in Argentina.The Party was founded in 1954 after several other organisations had been active promoting Christian democracy in Argentina. Leading activists in its early years included José Allende and Horacio Sueldo...
led by Carlos Auyero
Carlos Auyero
Carlos Auyero was an Argentine politician. He was leader of the Christian Democratic Party and played a major role in the formation of the centre-left coalition FrePaSo....
and also figures such as Graciela Fernández Meijide
Graciela Fernández Meijide
Rosa Graciela Castagnola de Fernández Meijide is an Argentine teacher, human rights activist and politician. She came to prominence by investigating the forced disappearances of thousands of people during the Dirty War...
. In 1990 the rebel Justicialists, having formed FredeJuSo, came together with the Communist Party of Argentina
Communist Party of Argentina
The Communist Party of Argentina is a communist party from Argentina. It was founded in 1918.At the 2005 legislative elections, the Party joined the Encuentro Amplio with other left-wing parties in Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires Province...
and others in a loose coalition. Álvarez proposed forming a unified party and dissolving the constituent members, thus automatically excluding the Communists, who left.
In May 1993 they joined with Frente del Sur, a party set up by film-maker Pino Solanas, to form the Frente Grande. In the 1993 elections, the party's list in the city of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
gained 38% of the vote and several deputies were elected around the country, including Álvarez, Meijide and Solanas. Solanas left the party a short while later over personal differences.
In spring 1994, Álvarez led the Frente Grande into a new alliance, creating the Front for a Country in Solidarity
Front for a Country in Solidarity
The Front for a Country in Solidarity was a political party in Argentina. It was formed in 1994 out of the Great Front , which had been founded mainly by progressive members of the Peronist Justicialist Party who denounced the policies and the alleged corruption of the Carlos Menem administration;...
(FrePaSo). FrePaSo would continue the success of the Frente Grande and propel Álvarez to be vice-president of the country. The Frente Grande continued to be a force in Buenos Aires politics, but has become largely marginalised with the collapse of FrePaSo; its members have largely joined the new Support for an Egalitarian Republic
Support for an Egalitarian Republic
Civic Coalition ARI is a social liberal Argentine political party, founded in 2001 by Elisa Carrió. It is a member of the Civic Coalition with centrist and centre-left parties.- Creation and political representation :...
(ARI) party or returned to the Peronists under centre-left Presidents Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
and his wife and successor Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
.
What remained of the Front swung behind the Kirchners' ruling Front for Victory
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
. At the 2005 legislative elections, however, some sections of the Front joined the Encuentro Amplio
Encuentro Amplio
The Broad Encounter was a left-wing electoral front in Argentina formed ahead of the 2005 legislative elections.Based on the Frente Amplio of Uruguay, the alliance was formed of the Intransigent Party, the Socialist Party and the Communist Party of Argentina with sections of the Broad Front and...
with other left-wing parties in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
. The coalition did badly and lost its existing national representation. In 2007, members of the Front including María José Bongiorno
María José Bongiorno
María José Bongiorno is an Argentine Frente Grande politician. She sits in the Argentine Senate representing Río Negro Province in the majority block of the Front for Victory....
were elected as part of the Front for Victory. Of its leading figures, Nilda Garré
Nilda Garré
Nilda Garré , a former leftist militant, is the current Minister of Security of Argentina, and the former Minister of Defense since 2005. She was the first woman to hold each office in the country.- Career :...
serves as Minister of Defense and party leader Eduardo Sigal is a junior official in the sub-secretariat of American Economic Integration and Mercosur
Mercosur
Mercosur or Mercosul is an economic and political agreement among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Founded in 1991 by the Treaty of Asunción, which was later amended and updated by the 1994 Treaty of Ouro Preto. Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people,...
.