El gran elector provincial en Santiago del Estero (2005-2010). Una perspectiva desde adentro de un “oficialismo invencible”

Abstract

Inspired by the interest in the topics related to subnational political regimes, the article is based on a study case of the province of Santiago del Estero. After the return of democracy, the ruling party has only left office after political crises that culminated in federal interventions. After the one in 2004, the Partido Justicialista left office, giving end to what was considered a case of “subnational authoritarianism”. Nevertheless, the party in power is even more powerful now than in the past. By studying the electoral processes in the period 2005-2010, it is shown how there are electoral practices that persist throughout time: the ones that settle the governor as the main decider of candidatures and the ruling party as the most desired option. Based on in-depth interviews with provincial political leaders, the aim of this article is to discuss two of the main perspectives in subnational studies: the one centered on the pair authoritarianism/democracy, and the one of the fiscal federalism, focused on the control of public resources by the governor.