Tight Race in Argentina‘s Congressional Count: Milei’s party Nears Lousteau‘s Seat
BUENOS AIRES – A fiercely contested race for a seat in Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies hangs in the balance as the final vote count continues, with La Libertad Avanza (LLA) closing in on current deputy Martín Lousteau of Ciudadanos Unidos. The dispute centers on a mere 1,411 vote difference separating the first quotient of Ciudadanos Unidos (97,794 votes) and the eighth of LLA (96,383).
The outcome will have significant consequences: a LLA victory would leave Ciudadanos Unidos without any depiction in Congress, having also failed to secure a Senate seat. Meanwhile,United Provinces is projected to gain only seven deputies nationwide.
the tension is palpable, with both sides closely monitoring the ongoing scrutiny. LLA is banking on strong support from Argentines living abroad to overcome the current deficit. Iñaki Gutiérrez, a libertarian commentator, highlighted the stakes on social media, stating, “Martín Lousteau is very few votes away from being left out of Congress and that one more representative of President Milei will enter. All of Argentina wants the one who raised his hand to collect $12,000,000 to stay out,” – a reference to a recent Senate vote to increase per diems.
To overturn the current results, the final scrutiny would need to reveal at least 1,411 votes incorrectly attributed to Lousteau. Alternatively, LLA would need to considerably increase it’s vote total. Because the contested votes relate to the eighth candidate on the LLA list, the party would need to add approximately 11,288 votes to its current tally to surpass Lousteau.
As of this morning, the final count from seven of the 15 communes included votes from people deprived of their liberty and Argentines abroad. LLA claims to have received 6,531 votes from abroad, giving them a 228-vote lead over Lousteau after applying the necessary multiplication factor.
However, radicalism, Lousteau’s political space, remains confident in maintaining the current lead.Sources close to the national senator told THE NATION that “There is no chance that Lousteau will lose the bench,” citing meticulous monitoring of election minutes on Sunday.
A UCR representative involved in the recount declined to comment on the specific seat in dispute until the process is complete, anticipating a conclusion by noon tomorrow.
This close contest underscores the deeply polarized political landscape in Argentina following the election of President Javier Milei and highlights the importance of every single vote in shaping the composition of the nation’s legislature.