In a surprising turn of events, the eccentric far-right populist, Javier Milei, was unable to clinch victory in the first round of Argentina’s presidential election. Instead, the centrist finance minister, Sergio Massa, emerged as the victor, defying expectations.
Milei, often likened to a fusion of Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, and Boris Johnson, had garnered significant attention leading up to the election, with his supporters hoping for a resounding win akin to Bolsonaro’s surprise victory in Brazil in 2018.
With 97% of the votes tallied on Sunday night, Massa secured 36.6% of the 26.3 million votes cast, while Milei came in second with 30%. The third major candidate, conservative former security minister Patricia Bullrich, garnered approximately 23.8% of the votes.
Massa, aged 51, and Milei, aged 53, will now proceed to a runoff on November 19. For an outright victory, a candidate would have needed to secure more than 45% of the votes or at least 40% with a 10-point lead over the closest rival.
Addressing his supporters at campaign headquarters, Massa pledged to lead a national unity government, promising a “new phase in Argentina’s political history” and vowing to work tirelessly to protect the country.
Milei, in his characteristic style, urged his followers to celebrate the “historic achievement” of reaching the runoff, just two years after the founding of their party, La Libertad Avanza (Freedom Advances). He emphasized the need for change, stating, “Either we change, or we sink.”
The outcome leaves Argentina poised for a month of profound uncertainty, economic turbulence, and a flood of misinformation in the lead-up to the showdown between Massa and Milei. Massa’s victory is not guaranteed, as many of Bullrich’s right-wing supporters may shift their allegiance to Milei.
Javier Milei, a libertarian economist who only entered the political arena in 2021 when he was elected to congress, claimed he could lead “the best government in history” if elected, emphasizing the choice between making Argentina a global power or descending into poverty.
Prominent figures from South America’s extreme-right had flocked to Argentina, hoping for a Milei victory that would bolster their movement following Bolsonaro’s loss of power in Brazil in 2022. However, some of their comments were seen as violating electoral laws.
On the other side, leftists from South America arrived in Buenos Aires to support Massa’s campaign, drawing comparisons between Milei and Bolsonaro to dissuade Argentine voters from supporting him.
Massa’s campaign sought to distance itself from former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and promised measures to alleviate economic challenges.
As the votes were cast, tensions ran high, and some Milei supporters alleged electoral irregularities, echoing the claims made by Bolsonaro’s supporters after his loss in Brazil’s 2022 election. The result of this election promises an intriguing and uncertain future for Argentina.
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