Argentines voted in primary elections on Sunday morning, with voters poised to punish the country’s center-left Peronist alliance in response to high inflation of 116% and a cost-of-living crisis that has left 40% of the population in poverty.
Most adults are required to vote in the primary, which functions as a massive dress rehearsal for the general election in October and makes it evident who is the front-runner to win the president.
That will be crucial for policies affecting Argentina’s sizable agricultural industry, which is one of the top exporters of soy, maize and beef in the world, the peso currency and bonds, and continuing negotiations over a precarious $44 billion debt arrangement with the International Monetary Fund.
The first results are anticipated at 9 p.m. (0000 GMT), with polls opening at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) and voting centres closing at roughly 6 p.m. (2100 GMT).
The economic crisis has caused widespread disillusionment with the major political parties, including the conservative opposition Together for Change and the ruling Peronist alliance, and it has created the possibility of a surprise victory by a far-right libertarian candidate.
A trend that could work against the more moderate candidates in the race, such as conservative Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Larreta or Economy Minister Sergio Massa, is the plotting of protest votes for fringe parties or no parties at all.
Buenos Aires-based food firm employee Micaela Panzera, 22, stated, “I am considering leaving my vote blank.” “No candidate really persuades me,” I said.
The conservative Together for Change coalition’s contest for leadership between Patricia Bullrich, an ex-security minister, and centrist Larreta is the most crucial. Both promise stricter austerity measures and more open markets.
Libertarian economist Javier Milei, who consistently receives close to one-fifth of the expected vote in polls and wins over voters with a brazen, unrepentant demeanour, is a significant X factor. He wants to close the central bank and dollarize the entire economy.
A three-candidate battle in October might result from a strong showing by the libertarian candidate, according to a note from the bank Goldman Sachs.
Despite a fee for not voting, pollsters anticipate minimal turnout.
“More blank votes and more abstentions should be anticipated. The provincial elections that have been held up to this point have shown warning signals of this, according to political expert Carlos Fara.
Because Milei is an anomaly in politics, his performance is the most difficult to forecast.
According to polls, Milei is pulling close to 20% support, putting the combined Together for Change opposition candidates barely ahead of the Peronist group in power. But most agree that it’s a difficult race to forecast. The polls were wildly off in the 2019 presidential primary.
Whoever wins in October, or more likely in a runoff in November, will need to make important choices over replenishing depleting foreign reserves, increasing grain exports, controlling inflation, and how to remove a maze of currency controls.
Reuters
