The Olivos Pact refers to a series of documents signed on November 17, 1993, between the governing 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...

 of Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

, 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:...

, and former President and leader of the opposition UCR

Radical Civic Union

The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...

, Raúl Alfonsín

Raúl Alfonsín

Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...

, that formed the basis of the constitutional reform of 1994

1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution

The 1994 amendment to the Constitution of Argentina was approved on 22 August by a Constitutional Assembly that met in the twin cities of Santa Fe and Paraná...

. These memoranda of understanding were signed in the official presidential residence, the Quinta de Olivos

Quinta de Olivos

The Quinta de Olivos is an architectural landmark in the north side Buenos Aires suburb of Olivos and the official residence of the President of Argentina.-Overview:...

.

Before that constitutional reform, the presidential mandate had a length of six years, and a president could not have two consecutive terms. In an attempt to remain in power, Menem negotiated with Alfonsín for support in calling for constitutional reform and the re-election clause. In exchange, among other points, the government would grant autonomy to 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...

, which would have its own magistrature

Buenos Aires City Hall

Buenos Aires City Hall is the executive seat of government of the Argentine capital.-Building:The 1880 Federalization of Buenos Aires was followed by a boom in foreign trade and European immigration, and in 1890, Mayor Francisco P. Bollini commissioned the construction of a new city hall...

.

In spite of opposition from different sectors, particularly within Alfonsín's own UCR, the constitutional reform took place mostly as expected by Menem and Alfonsín, with Menem winning re-election as President in 1995, followed by UCR Senator Fernando de la Rúa

Fernando de la Rúa

Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....

's election as Mayor of Buenos Aires in 1996.

Todo Argentina: 1993