Argentina heads for a presidential run-off: Milei loses primary lead as Massa celebrates election victory

The candidate of Unión por la Patria obtained 36.68% of the votes in the general elections, while the candidate of La Libertad Avanza came second with almost a third of the votes. Patricia Bullrich, of the opposition coalition Juntos por el Cambio, was left out of the ballot.

Sergio Massa defied expectations in this Sunday’s (October 22) elections in Argentina after his political party came in third in the August primaries. The candidate of the ruling party and current Minister of Finance of Alberto Fernández’s government obtained 36.68% of the votes, according to the preliminary count of the National Electoral Chamber, with 98.51% of the votes counted.

"I will call for a government of national unity with the best [people], regardless of their political party", Massa assured on Twitter/X after his victory.

Javier Milei, the controversial right-wing libertarian who had emerged as a favorite in the PASO primaries, was relegated on this opportunity with 29.98% of the votes. In his speech after the first figures were announced, Milei opened the door to a possible alliance with Juntos por el Cambio, the third most voted force.

"This election is not about me. We, good Argentines, have to unite and decide whether we want Kirchnerism or freedom", said the candidate.

Patricia Bullrich, an ally of former President Mauricio Macri and conservative candidate of Juntos por el Cambio, could not replicate the favorable numbers of the primaries and was left with 23.83% of the votes.

On the other hand, the candidates of centrist Peronism and the left, Juan Schiaretti (Hacemos) and Myriam Bregman (Frente de Izquierda y de los Trabajadores - Unidad) obtained 6.78% and 2.70% of the votes, respectively.

The results come at a time of great political and economic uncertainty for Argentina, with an inflation rate of 138.3% and a poverty rate above 40% in the first half of the year, according to official data. In this context, voter turnout was remarkably high, with more than 74% of the electoral roll (almost 26 million people) going to the polls.

The presidential run-off will be held on Sunday, November 19.

Author: Marina Vanni