Frondizi’s Relations with the Political Parties

Abstract

Frigerio and his integracionistas could arguably be regarded as rivals of the parliamentary leadership, often dictating to it through the president. All too frequently Frondizi followed the advise put forth by Frigerio rather than heed the voice of his own party colleagues. And yet, with a few notable exceptions, the party was at times the only prop for a government orphaned of support. It must be borne in mind that there had not been a UCR government for 28 years; the UCRI not only had to learn to act as government, it had not yet had time to redefine its own identity as a party. As it turned out, it would not achieve it under Frondizi and the UCR is still struggling to do so today. The UCRI missed its chance in a tacit struggle against a small group of men who had monopolised the president’s ear, and who were bent on carrying out policies of their own, bearing no relation with any political tradition in the government’s ranks, however convenient they found it to invoke Yrigoyenismo when it suited their purposes. For the most part, political considerations were overruled by ‘technological’ ones, reflecting Frigerio’s undaunted belief in the allegedly scientific character of his analyses.