Argentina's Presidential Primary Sees Far-right Milei Emerge as the Winner

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【Summary】Far-right candidate Javier Milei leads in Argentina's presidential primary with over 30% of the votes. He will compete against center-right candidate Patricia Bullrich and Economy Minister Sergio Massa in the upcoming presidential election. President Alberto Fernandez is not seeking reelection due to high inflation, poverty, and a devalued currency.

FutureCar Staff Aug 14, 2023 12:30 AM PT

Argentina's Presidential Primary Sees Far-right Milei Emerge as the Winner

Results from Sunday's primary election in Argentina have revealed that voters will have a choice between far-right lawmaker Javier Milei, center-right coalition candidate Patricia Bullrich, and Economy Minister Sergio Massa in this year's presidential vote. The unique format of the election allowed Argentines to vote for their favorite among 22 potential candidates, with Milei taking the top spot at over 30 percent.

Bullrich received about 28 percent of the vote, while Massa came in third with around 27 percent. The current president, Alberto Fernandez, who is deeply unpopular due to high inflation, increased poverty rates, and a devalued peso, is not seeking reelection in October.

The government has implemented strict currency controls and higher import taxes in an attempt to stabilize the economy, but dissatisfaction with the current center-left government has created an opportunity for other candidates, including the libertarian Milei.

Milei, who has expressed admiration for former US president Donald Trump and Brazil's ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro, ran as the only candidate for his Libertad Avanza party. He aims to abolish the Central Bank, ban abortion, liberalize the sale of arms, and create a market for the sale of human organs.

Some voters, like sales executive Facundo Cardozo, believe that Milei's unconventional approach is necessary to address the country's current situation. Cardozo stated, "You have to break what's assembled to then put the pieces back together and start over."

Juan Negri, a political science professor at Torcuato di Tella University, believes that Milei reflects the disillusionment many voters feel towards traditional political parties. With 35.4 million eligible voters, Sunday's primary is seen as a strong predictor of the general election outcome.

The three candidates will now proceed to a first-round vote on October 22, followed by a potential run-off on November 19.