Procesos de reforma política: la derogación de la Ley de Lemas en Santa Fe

Abstract

“The electoral systems are neither innocent nor neutral”. This premise is a classic for the politicians and the analysts of institutional issues. Furthermore, the idea that any political party will support any electoral reform which consequences would affect the electoral results. Generally, the engine of the electoral reform is connected with strategic reforms which pointed to guarantee an electoral victory. In 2004, the Santa Fe´s Legislature approved the abolition of the “Ley de Lemas”, a law which allowed the Partido Justicialista to govern since its approval in 1990. The law project had been presented by the governor Jorge Obeid and it had been the key issue in the internal conflict in this political party. The question that the authors want to answer is: Why did the governor Obeid change the electoral system? Why did he change the rules of the game that allowed him to win the elections? In the conclusions, the authors argue that the results of this conflict bring about the importance of the role of other non governmental players, such as NGOs, universities and media. Another of the key points of the investigation is the analysis the strategies defined by the different political parties. In particular, the dual role of the Partido Justicialista, as a supporter of the abolition of the Lemas Law and as an opponent of any reform proposal.