Economy Minister Sergio Massa led the presidential election in Argentina when 76 percent of the votes had been counted, but was unable to get enough votes to run away with victory. Photo: Daniel Jayo / AP / NTB
Economy Minister Sergio Massa will face right-wing populist Javier Milei in a new round of elections in November, preliminary results from Argentina’s presidential election show.
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After around 86 percent of the votes had been counted, Massa had received 36 percent, while Milei had 30 percent.
To win the election in the first round, a candidate must either receive 45 percent of the vote or 40 percent and at the same time lead by 10 percentage points.
Around 35 million Argentines were eligible to vote, and around three quarters participated. The country is in its worst economic crisis in two decades, and anger is great against the political elite.
Surprising result
Before the election, Massa, who sits in the country’s centre-left government, was number two in most opinion polls. Javier Milei, a strongly right-wing and market liberal economist who is very conservative on value issues, led.
Massa’s surprisingly good support comes despite the fact that inflation in the country during his post has exceeded 100 percent for the first time since 1991.
Javier Milei is set to meet Economy Minister Serigo Massa in the second round of elections. Photo: Mario De Fina / AP / NTB
He has promised to cut the deficit in the state finances, stick to the peso as currency and protect the social safety net.
Milei wants to get rid of the central bank and introduce the US dollar as currency.
He also wants to privatize state-owned companies, shut down public infrastructure projects, change the Working Environment Act so that it will be easier to fire employees and implement major cuts in the public sector to reduce public expenditure.
Deep crisis
Argentina tops the list of countries with debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country owes over NOK 480 billion, and inflation is now up to around 140 per cent a year.
Over 40 percent of Argentina’s 46 million inhabitants now live in poverty, a large increase from the roughly 30 percent who, according to the country’s statistical agency, were counted as poor seven years ago.
The second and decisive election round will be on 19 November.
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Published: 23.10.23 at 03:21
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2023-10-23 01:21:12
#Massa #Milei #elections #Argentina
