Juntos por el Cambio

Juntos por el Cambio
Juntos por el Cambio · Public domain · source
Name	Juntos por el Cambio
Country	Argentina
Leader	Patricia Bullrich, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, Mauricio Macri
Foundation	12 June 2015
Ideology	Conservatism, Liberalism, Federal Peronism
Position	Centre-right to right-wing
Seats1 title	Seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Seats1	93, 257
Seats2 title	Seats in the Senate
Seats2	24, 72
Seats3 title	Governors
Seats3	6, 24

Juntos por el Cambio is a major centre-right to right-wing political coalition in Argentina. Formed in 2015 as Cambiemos, it secured the presidency with the election of Mauricio Macri that year, marking the first non-Peronist or Radical government since 1916. The alliance brings together liberal, conservative, and federal Peronist factions, positioning itself as the primary opposition to Kirchnerism and the ruling Unión por la Patria. Its constituent parties include the Republican Proposal (PRO), the Radical Civic Union (UCR), and the Civic Coalition ARI.

History and formation

The coalition originated in 2015 as an electoral front named Cambiemos, forged through a pact between Mauricio Macri's Republican Proposal, the historic Radical Civic Union, and Elisa Carrió's Civic Coalition ARI. This union was strategically designed to challenge the incumbent Front for Victory government of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in the 2015 Argentine general election. Following Macri's victory, the coalition governed until 2019, navigating challenges like the 2018 Argentine monetary crisis and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. After losing the 2019 Argentine general election to Alberto Fernández's Frente de Todos, the alliance rebranded as Juntos por el Cambio in 2019, solidifying its role as the principal opposition bloc during the presidencies of Alberto Fernández and later Javier Milei.

Ideology and political positions

Ideologically, the coalition is a broad tent spanning from the centre-right to the right-wing, unifying fiscal conservatives, economic liberals, and social conservatives. Its core platform emphasizes market-oriented economics, including reducing the fiscal deficit, lifting currency controls, and attracting foreign investment, policies prominently attempted during the Macri administration. On social issues, it encompasses a spectrum from progressive liberals within the Radical Civic Union to more conservative voices aligned with Republican Proposal. The alliance is consistently defined by its staunch opposition to Kirchnerism, criticizing models of statism and the political legacy of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Electoral performance

The coalition's first major test was the 2015 Argentine general election, where Mauricio Macri won the presidency after a runoff against Daniel Scioli of the Front for Victory. In the 2017 Argentine legislative election, it strengthened its position, performing well in provinces like Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires. However, it lost the presidency in the 2019 Argentine general election amid economic turmoil. As the opposition, it secured significant victories in the 2021 Argentine legislative election, weakening the ruling Frente de Todos's congressional majority. In the 2023 Argentine general election, its candidate Patricia Bullrich placed third in the first round, leading the coalition to release its voters in the runoff, which contributed to the eventual victory of Javier Milei's La Libertad Avanza.

Member parties and internal structure

The three principal national parties are the Republican Proposal (PRO), founded by Mauricio Macri and representing urban, liberal-conservative voters; the Radical Civic Union (UCR), a traditional centrist party with strong roots in interior provinces; and the Civic Coalition ARI, a social liberal faction. Key provincial partners include the Democratic Party of Mendoza, the Popular Union of Córdoba, and the Three Flags Party in Entre Ríos. The coalition operates as a confederation of parties, with leadership and candidate selection often subject to internal negotiations and primaries, such as the competitive 2023 PASO between Patricia Bullrich and Horacio Rodríguez Larreta. This structure has at times led to public tensions between its federal wings and the Buenos Aires-centric leadership.

Leadership and key figures

The coalition's most prominent figure is former President Mauricio Macri, who remains a symbolic leader and founder. Other significant national leaders include Patricia Bullrich, former Minister of Security and the coalition's 2023 presidential candidate, and Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, former Chief of Government of Buenos Aires and a key electoral strategist. From the Radical Civic Union, figures like Alfredo Cornejo, head of the bloc in the Chamber of Deputies, and Gerardo Morales, Governor of Jujuy, hold substantial influence. Elisa Carrió, founder of the Civic Coalition ARI, is a foundational though sometimes dissenting voice. Emerging figures include Diego Santilli and Rodrigo de Loredo, who represent newer generations within the Republican Proposal and UCR, respectively.

Category:Political parties in Argentina Category:Political coalitions Category:2015 establishments in Argentina