There will indeed be a second round in the presidential election in Argentina. A centrist Economy Minister, Sergio Massa, and an “anti-system” ultraliberal who wants to “cut apart” the State, Javier Milei, a great admirer of Trump and Bolsonaro, will face each other on November 19, in a duel between two antagonistic visions from the country.
Sergio Massa, 51, candidate of the government bloc (center-left) overcame the handicap of a suffering economy and record inflation at 138%, to come first in the first round on Sunday with 36.6% of the votes. , according to the Electoral Authority, with more than 97% of the votes counted. He is ahead of the “anarcho-capitalist” economist – as he defines himself – Javier Milei, 53, who with 30%, confirms his breakthrough since his burst onto the political scene two years ago, but below what the polls predicted him. The inauguration of the future president is scheduled for December 10.
The center-right is eliminated
The candidate of the opposition bloc (center-right) Patricia Bullrich, a former Minister of Security protected by former liberal President Mauricio Macri (2015-2019), is eliminated, with 23.8%.
Argentines voted in a climate of uncertainty and concern, as rarely since the return of democracy 40 years ago, against a backdrop of chronic debt, inflation among the highest in the world, and a currency in constant depreciation for two years.