a coffin draped in the UCR colors was burned before the television cameras. The bonfire ignited the electorate's bitter memories of Isabel Perón's tenure and helped result in a solid victory for the UCR. The Peronists were given a majority in the Senate and 12 of 22 governorships. The UCR secured only 7 governors, though the nation's largest province, Buenos Aires, would be governed by the UCR's Alejandro Armendáriz. The elections themselves, which allowed Alfonsín to persuade Bignone to advance the inaugural to December 10, 1983, became, in playwright Carlos Gorostiza's words, "more than a democratic way out, a way into life." Candidates for President Radical Civic Union (centrist/social democrat): Former Deputy Raúl Alfonsín of Buenos Aires. Justicialist Party (populist): Former Senator Ítalo Lúder of Santa Fe. Intransigent Party (socialist) : Former Governor Oscar Alende of Buenos Aires. Integration and Development Movement (developmentalist): Economist Rogelio Julio Frigerio of Buenos Aires. Results The Alfonsín-Martínez tandem won the election by 51.75% of votes against the 40.16% of Luder-Bittel tandem. Alfonsín's 51.75% vote percentage would be broken by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's record of 54.11% vote percentage in 2011. President Results by province Chamber of Deputies Results by province Senate Results by province Provincial Governors References 1983 1983 elections in Argentina Presidency of Raúl Alfonsín 1983