A non-binding referendum on resolving the Beagle conflict was held in Argentina on 25 November 1984.[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of the government's negotiated settlement with Chile, which would result in Argentina recognising the Picton, Lennox and Nueva islands as being Chilean territory. Although the plebiscite was not binding, President Raul Alfonsin declared that he would respect the outcome of the vote. The proposal was approved by 82.6% of voters, with a turnout of 70%.
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Conformity (or disconformity) of the citizen with the terms of the conclusion of the negotiations with the Republic of Chile to resolve the dispute concerning the area of the Beagle Channel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
  Ballots used in the referendum. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Percentage of "Yes" votes by province | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
The ruling party, the Radical Civic Union, called for a vote in favor of the settlement. The opposition, headed by the Justicialist Party, boycotted the process, claiming that it distracted from economic problems.[2] Some opponents, including Herminio Iglesias, called for voters to participate in the referendum and vote against. In contrast, other leaders like Carlos Menem came out in favour of the settlement.[3] The right-wing, including military groups that ruled Argentina between 1976 and 1983, were also against the settlement.[4]
Results
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 10,454,172 | 82.60 | |
| Against | 2,201,963 | 17.40 | |
| Total | 12,656,135 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 12,656,135 | 98.40 | |
| Invalid votes | 64,099 | 0.50 | |
| Blank votes | 141,121 | 1.10 | |
| Total votes | 12,861,355 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 18,350,863 | 70.09 | |
| Source: Dirección Nacional Electoral | |||
By province
| Province | Yes | No | Invalid/ blank | Total | Registered voters | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||
| Buenos Aires | 4,237,251 | 80.94 | 997,831 | 19.06 | 76,303 | 5,311,385 | 6,758,336 | 78.59 |
| Buenos Aires City | 1,311,387 | 81.67 | 294,281 | 18.33 | 22,209 | 1,627,877 | 2,418,933 | 67.30 |
| Catamarca | 64,041 | 95.06 | 3,330 | 4.94 | 794 | 68,165 | 133,814 | 50.94 |
| Chaco | 220,716 | 83.13 | 44,793 | 16.87 | 5,028 | 270,537 | 408,058 | 66.30 |
| Chubut | 93,833 | 83.04 | 19,170 | 16.96 | 1,255 | 114,258 | 158,863 | 71.92 |
| Córdoba | 1,027,223 | 88.80 | 129,599 | 11.20 | 22,804 | 1,179,626 | 1,669,715 | 70.65 |
| Corrientes | 232,864 | 85.08 | 40,840 | 14.92 | 3,949 | 277,653 | 448,418 | 61.92 |
| Entre Ríos | 345,970 | 86.85 | 52,402 | 13.15 | 11,034 | 409,406 | 623,297 | 65.68 |
| Formosa | 88,604 | 86.91 | 13,342 | 13.09 | 1,892 | 103,838 | 170,978 | 70.73 |
| Jujuy | 99,385 | 84.25 | 18,575 | 15.75 | 2,146 | 120,106 | 225,743 | 53.20 |
| La Pampa | 84,148 | 94.56 | 4,837 | 5.44 | 1,668 | 90,653 | 149,557 | 60.61 |
| La Rioja | 31,486 | 90.44 | 3,329 | 9.56 | 434 | 35,249 | 42,861 | 82.24 |
| Mendoza | 376,821 | 66.72 | 187,999 | 33.28 | 8,592 | 573,412 | 768,608 | 74.60 |
| Misiones | 191,828 | 83.68 | 37,413 | 16.32 | 5,806 | 235,047 | 336,376 | 69.88 |
| Neuquén | 96,282 | 87.56 | 13,682 | 12.44 | 1,224 | 111,188 | 147,090 | 75.59 |
| Río Negro | 132,203 | 87.46 | 18,960 | 12.54 | 2,686 | 153,849 | 209,082 | 73.58 |
| Salta | 193,894 | 75.25 | 63,785 | 24.75 | 4,061 | 261,740 | 403,441 | 64.88 |
| San Juan | 162,886 | 89.11 | 19,906 | 10.89 | 2,193 | 184,985 | 292,777 | 63.18 |
| San Luis | 85,514 | 89.43 | 10,105 | 10.57 | 1,273 | 96,892 | 151,486 | 63.96 |
| Santa Cruz | 30,232 | 78.21 | 8,422 | 21.79 | 372 | 39,026 | 56,018 | 69.67 |
| Santa Fe | 901,943 | 87.22 | 132,142 | 12.78 | 20,341 | 1,054,426 | 1,721,825 | 61.24 |
| Santiago del Estero | 137,491 | 86.69 | 21,106 | 13.31 | 3,512 | 162,109 | 402,003 | 40.33 |
| Tierra del Fuego | 9,682 | 59.77 | 6,516 | 40.23 | 150 | 16,348 | 20,685 | 79.03 |
| Tucumán | 298,488 | 83.36 | 59,598 | 16.64 | 5,494 | 363,580 | 632,899 | 57.45 |
| Total | 10,454,172 | 82.60 | 2,201,963 | 17.40 | 205,220 | 12,861,355 | 18,350,863 | 70.09 |
Aftermath
Despite the overwhelming support from voters, the Argentine National Congress only approved the treaty on 14 March 1985 by a vote of 23–22, with one abstention.[5]