Argentina’s fifth competitive regime of the twentieth century began in 1973 as its most democratic ever. For the first time since 1951, the Peronists were allowed to field a presidential candidate. Running as Perón’s officially designated candidate, Héctor won in a landslide in a free and fair presidential election on 1973, and he assumed office on May 25, 1973. On June 20, 1970, Perón returned to Argentina after almost eighteen years in exile.