Summary

The 2005 Legislative Election results in Argentina constitute a strong endorsement of Nestor Kirchner's policies, allowing him to claim control of the Partido Justicialista, to sideline most of its political opponents within and outside the party, to win a majority of seats in Congress, and to set the stage for his likelyreelection in 2007. As in the previous two elections, very high electoral fragmentation by the opposition has provided large seat premiums to the Peronists in Congress. Moreover, this increasing fragmentation and territorialization of the vote has once again facilitated strong electoral performances on the part ofmost incumbents in the Provinces.