A New Chapter for the Radical Party in Argentina's Largest Province
The Unión Cívica Radical (UCR)—Argentina's oldest political party, founded in 1891—took a decisive step in its reorganization on August 8, 2026, during a packed gathering at the Club Atenas in La Plata, the provincial capital. The event aimed to project unity and strength ahead of the 2027 general elections, but internal tensions quickly surfaced, overshadowing the celebration.
Emiliano Balbín Takes the Helm
The party's provincial committee elected Emiliano Balbín as its new president, while Pablo Nicoletti was chosen to lead the party's convention. The event drew approximately 1,000 attendees and 254 convention delegates representing 135 of the province's 135 districts.
In his inaugural speech, Balbín urged members to move beyond internal squabbles and focus on rebuilding the party's grassroots structure. 'I want committees that stop being spaces of catharsis, self-help, or collective therapy, and instead become the powerhouse of ideas and the engine of change that the province of Buenos Aires needs,' he declared.
A Strategy of Self-Sufficiency for 2027
Balbín stressed that the UCR must first strengthen its own identity before seeking alliances. 'To reach agreements, we must first reinforce our identity and gain competitiveness. Only by having our own weight can we build a coalition,' he said.
He closed with a bold vision: 'We want power to govern. We want to govern to transform. And we want to transform so that this province becomes the place where everyone wants to live.'
The Unavoidable Internal Rift: 'Construir' Walks Out
While Balbín was delivering his message, the Construir faction—led by former Trenque Lauquen mayor Miguel Fernández—refused to recognize the new leadership and staged a walkout.
The dispute centered on the composition of the Electoral Board. Fernández's group demanded a seat, as the Adelante sector (led by Maximiliano Abad) and Futuro Radical (backed by Santa Fe Governor Maximiliano Pullaro and Leonel Chiarella) had already secured two seats each. When efforts to expand the board to five members failed, Construir's delegates left the venue.
'The UCR has no owners. It does not belong to a table of leaders nor can it be reduced to agreements among a few,' read a statement from the dissident group, which posed for photos on the sidewalk outside the club—a stark symbol of the party's unfinished unity.