[1/4]Voters vote at a polling station during the Argentine presidential election on October 22, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Reuters/Matthias Baglietto Obtaining license rights
BUENOS AIRES, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Argentines cast their ballots on Sunday to vote in a general election as the South American nation’s worst economic crisis in two decades fuels the rise of outsider far-right libertarians. I headed to the place. He has secured pole position for the victory.
The vote will disrupt Argentina’s already volatile market and affect relations with trading partners including China and Brazil, a major grain exporter with vast lithium and shale gas reserves. likely to set the political course.
Voting stations opened at 8am (11am GMT) with the three front-runners: libertarian economist Javier Millay, centrist Peronist Economy Minister Sérgio Massa, and conservative Patricia Bulllich. The candidates are likely to split the vote.
Mr Millais, who has promised to “chainsaw” the economic and political status quo, said he was being bullied by angry voters, fed up with 138% inflation and poverty affecting more than two-fifths of the population. They are flocking to their message of tearing down, making them candidates to defeat. population.
“People want things to change,” said Federico Aurelio, president of consulting firm Aresco. “How? They don’t know anything and they want something different.”
Milley, a brash former TV pundit who has been likened to Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, won a shock victory in an open primary in August, but Massa and Bullrich are not far apart and could be a close race. There is sex. Pollsters predict no outright winner.
To avoid a second round of elections on November 19, candidates need at least 45% of the vote, or a 10-point lead of 40%. Voting on Sunday will end around 6pm (6pm Japan time). First results are expected at 9pm (00:00 GMT).
No matter who wins, the economy will have to be put on life support. The central bank’s reserves are empty, a recession is expected after a major drought, and a $44 billion plan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is teetering.
In the midst of the crisis, Mr. Milley suddenly rose to promise shock therapy to rebuild the economy, including dollarization, closing the central bank, drastically reducing the size of government, and privatizing state institutions.
“He is the only one who understands the situation in this country and how to save it,” said Nicolas Mercado, 22, a student from Buenos Aires.
Massa, the current economy secretary, is running despite inflation reaching triple digits for the first time since 1991. He has promised to reduce the budget deficit, preserve the peso and protect the Peronist social welfare safety net.
“Massa represents the traditional guarantees that I grew up with, such as public health and state education, which I would like to protect with my vote,” said astrologer Flavia Vázquez.
Mr. Bullrich is a former security minister and popular in business circles, but his support has waned with the unexpected arrival of Mr. Millais. The pollster sees her as the most likely of her top three runners to miss the second round.
Report by Nicolas Misculin.Editing: Adam Jordan, Chizu Nomiyama, Barbara Lewis
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