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Argentina Marks 42 Years Since Return to Democracy

The commemoration highlights Raúl Alfonsín’s 1983 mandate that opened the path to CONADEP’s Nunca Más report.

Overview

  • Argentina observes the Day of the Recovery of Democracy on October 30, marking the return to free elections in 1983 after the 1976–1983 military rule.
  • Raúl Alfonsín of the Unión Cívica Radical won the 1983 presidential race with about 52% of the vote, becoming the first president of the restored democratic era.
  • The contest was dominated by the UCR and the Partido Justicialista, which together drew nearly 92% of ballots, with Alfonsín carrying 16 districts and Ítalo Luder eight in the PJ’s first presidential defeat.
  • Alfonsín’s administration created the human-rights commission CONADEP and published the Nunca Más report, paving the way for trials of the former juntas.
  • Retrospectives describe nationwide civic celebrations and spotlight provincial outcomes such as Salta, where PJ candidate Roberto Romero won with 50.67% over UCR’s Bernardo Solá with 26.90%, alongside commentary urging renewal within the UCR.