Primaries in Argentina: unexpected result
With ~97% of the votes counted, the big surprise of these primary elections known as PASO (Simultaneous and Mandatory Open Primary Elections) was the result obtained by the party La Libertad Avanza, reflecting the immense discontent among Argentine society towards the constant failures of traditional politicians, highlighted by an annual inflation currently around 116% and statistics that show 4 out of 10 people living in poverty.
Within this context, Javier Milei was the winner with about 30.3% of the votes (vs. the 19.3% average suggested by the last polls). In second place was Macrismo through its coalition Juntos por el Cambio (Patricia Bullrich), with 28% of the votes, and finally, the ruling Peronist-Kirchnerist representation (Sergio Massa), Unión por la Patria, registered 27%. In this sense, Javier Milei was the most-voted candidate in 16 of the 24 provinces, with an outstanding performance in Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Mendoza. Considered a libertarian, Javier Milei is an economist born in the city of Buenos Aires, with a political career that has transcended for his controversial statements against different political and social aspects (e.g.: the disappearance of the Central Bank, dollarization of the economy and legalization of the organ sale market).
On the other hand, the participation rate stood out at 69.5% (vs. 67% in 2021, which represented a minimum, probably affected by Covid-19); nevertheless, it still prevailed well below the historical average of the primaries at 77% and implied the lowest reading for a presidential election. According to specialists, the low turnout could offer the traditional coalitions room to grow in the following months.
After the conclusion of the PASO, the candidates of the alliances that will participate in the presidential election of next October 22 were defined. This election will be key because the winner will have to find solutions to a number of challenges such as the crisis weighing on Argentina’s agricultural sector (one of the world’s main exporters of soy, corn, and meat), constant episodes of volatility in the financial markets, and maintaining talks with the IMF given the recent US$44bn debt agreement.
Argentine Primaries: 3 way split
Source: Reuters