2023-06-24 19:00:53
©Reuters. Minister of Economy from Argentina, Sergio Massa 03/08/2022 REUTERS/Matias Baglietto
By Anna-Catherine Brigida
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s presidential election battle tightened after Economy Minister Sergio Massa entered the race in a last-minute comeback to face the favorites, which include a conservative mayor, a former minister of Security and a libertarian economist.
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the deadline for candidates ends on Saturday night, marking the real start of the race to the October 22nd general elections to choose a leader who can pull the South American country out of the economic crisis, with inflation above 100%, increasing poverty and depleting international reserves.
There will be a primary election on Aug. 13 within the political blocs, which could also be a key test of voter sentiment, with the ruling Peronist alliance reeling in opinion polls on economic woes.
The most notable last-minute confirmation was that of Massa, whose candidacy was unexpectedly announced late on Friday.
“This completely changes the political landscape,” said Alejandro Corbacho, director of the political science program at the Argentine university Ucema. “He has support from key business sectors here and will be a competitive candidate.”
The ruling party has announced that Massa and chief of staff Agustin Rossi (BVMF:) will form the coalition’s unified slate, just one day after Interior Minister Eduardo ‘Wado’ de Pedro announced his candidacy and Ambassador to Brazil Daniel Scioli, reaffirm his decision to run. Neither of them ended their candidacies in public. The two trailed Massa in the polls.
Moderate Buenos Aires mayor Horacio Larreta and the more hard-line former security minister Patricia Bullrich are vying to stay ahead of the main conservative opposition bloc — which leads the polls overall. Behind them is centrist parliamentarian Facundo Manes.
Bullrich praised the party’s unity at a news conference on Friday and then blamed Massa for the country’s economic woes, promising total change if he wins.
“This slate is committed to profound change,” he said. “Argentina needs leaders with conviction because the problems to be solved are deep.”
A serious challenge to them is libertarian economist Javier Milei, the single most popular candidate in the polls, with many voters tired of the political status quo. His party, however, is in third place. He promised to dollarize the economy and do away with the central bank.
“He complicates life for the other two coalitions because he will take votes away from them,” said Argentine political consultant Carlos Fara, adding that his personal charisma may, however, be tempered by his party’s more limited structure.
Larreta, Bullrich and Massa are practically tied in the polls, with Milei slightly ahead. With no candidate or party showing more than 50% in the polls, the likelihood is that there will be a runoff in November.
(Reporting by Anna-Catherine Brigida)
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