Argentine elections leave radical outsider and centrist economy minister in November runoff

[peppertree]

Argentines flocked to the polls on Sunday to vote in a national election where a far-right libertarian and the pragmatic economy minister lead three other candidates in the race for the presidency - and will proceed to a November 19th runoff.

With 82% of precincts reporting, centrist Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa, 51, leads with 36.1%; with far-right economist Javier Milei, 53, second with 30.4%; and right-wing former Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, 67, eliminated with 23.7%.

Over 35 million voters were registered in this year's elections, held in nearly 17,000 precincts - plus 141 embassies and consulates worldwide.

Popular discontent in the economically troubled nation of 46 million depressed turnout somewhat, which at 77.6% was somewhat below the 81% registered in 2019 - but well above the 70% in nationwide primaries this August.

Voters also chose 130 congressional and 24 senate seats, as well as three governors and the mayor of Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof - whose province is home to 3 out of 8 Argentines - handily secured re-election with 45.2%, to right-wing challenger Néstor Grindetti's 26.2%.

A runoff, on the other hand, appears likely in the city of Buenos Aires - where right-wing candidate Jorge Macri (a cousin of the former president) has garnered 49.3% to center-left challenger Leandro Santoro's 32.3%.

Debt and democracy

Outgoing President Alberto Fernández, 64, opted out of running for re-election as he suffers from rock-bottom approval ratings amid annual inflation of over 138% - partly the result of a foreign debt "Macrisis" inherited from his right-wing predecessor, Mauricio Macri.

"We're in our 40th year of democracy, such that today is a particularly important day," President Fernández remarked after voting in Buenos Aires this morning.

This was the 10th presidential election held in Argentina since 1983, following a 7-year fascist dictatorship that presided over 30,000 "disappeared" and a foreign debt debacle that burdens to the country to this day.

Milei and his running mate, Victoria Villarruel, 48, have openly praised the last dictatorship.

At: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentina-heads-polls-grip-fierce-economic-crisis-2023-10-22/

Leading Argentine presidential candidates Sergio Massa (center-left), Patricia Bullrich (hard-right), and Javier Milei (far-right).

Representing the governing coalition, the pragmatic Massa will face off against the neo-fascist Milei in runoff elections this November.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Reading Bullrich is outta there is wonderful! Great photo of her, by all means! Yay, Bullrich!

Do you think Bullrich's fans will join Milei's lunatic fringe, stay home, or realize how dangerous Milei is in time to keep their country from heading right back to the ditch where Bullrich's leader left it?

Really would love to hope enough rationality remains among the voters to support the only sane one in the running! It couldn't be more important.

So glad the run--off left Massa in the lead at this point, peppertree. Thank you, so much for the information.

[peppertree]

2. Like Jeb, she was the establishment choice - but has low energy and is linked to an unpopular former President

As far as where her voters go, that's a good question Judi. I'd say that's the million-peso question.

Remains to be seen - but my guess is at least half will vote for Milei, with whom they have much more in common ideologically (currency deregulation, dictatorship nostalgia, the bigotry, etc.).

Milei and his surrogates are already openly courting Bullrich voters - but we'll see how effective that actually is.

Most Bullrich voters hate Cristina Kirchner, but not Massa - whom they merely disdain (similar to the Hillary '16 vs. Biden '20 dynamic). And many fear that a Milei regime could destroy the little stability the country has left.

Some Bullrich surrogates are already calling for a blank vote in the runoff. Macri himself is all for endorsing Milei, however (they agree on almost everything, after all) - so we'll see what Bullrich does.

In the meantime, the Senate and the House have already been decided - and it'll be split, with a RW advantage in the House.

If Massa wins, there won't be much he can get passed - even budgets (luckily, they have CRs in Argentina like we do). Reaching across the aisle will be key.

Thanks as always for your time and thoughts, Judi. Have a pleasant week.