Ruling Party Headed for Win in Argentina

The ruling Peronist Party appeared headed for victory Sunday in congressional elections that could affect President Carlos Saul Menem’s chances of running for a second term.

Early exit polls conducted by Argentine television stations indicated that the Peronists would win as expected in Buenos Aires province and run close with the opposition Radical Civic Union in the city of Buenos Aires, traditionally an opposition stronghold.

Voters were electing half of the 257-seat Chamber of Deputies, nearly 400 members of provincial legislatures and more than 3,000 other local officials.

The campaign focused on Menem’s efforts to reform the 140-year-old constitution to allow him to run for reelection in 1995. The charter limits presidents to one six-year term, but can be amended by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.

Even a convincing victory Sunday would not give the Peronists the seats they need for a reelection amendment. But Menem hopes a strong showing will give him political momentum and force the opposition to agree to constitutional reform.

During the campaign, Menem’s Peronist Party emphasized the country’s economic stability, in contrast with the high inflation rampant before he took office in 1989. Annual inflation, which was more than 4,900% in 1989, has been reduced to about 9%.

Increasing the tension was a recent series of threats against journalists critical of the government. Several reporters were assaulted and two radio stations were attacked.

Radical Civic Union members accused the government of trying to intimidate the press, while some Peronists said the Radicals had masterminded the attacks to make the government look bad.