October 14, 2001 elections in Argentina turned out 20 million voters and resulted in a definite rejection of President Fernando de la Rúa's central-left party platform due to his perceived mishandling of the country's recent economic crisis. The Peronist party gained ground in both the Senate and the lower house. Many voters, to express their consternation, spoiled their ballots or abstained from voting. It was determined that a quarter of the electorate did not vote, although voting is mandatory in Argentina. Some analysts say that the President's austerity plan, rife with budget-cuts, will almost surely be weakened as he has only minority legislative support and stronger opposition.