Argentina’s traditional political structure was rocked when voters opted overwhelmingly in the primaries for Javier Milei, a candidate capitalizing on the anger that’s built up on the back of years of socio-economic deterioration.
The ultra-liberal economist, who declares himself an “anarcho-capitalist,” is against abortion, considers climate change “a ruse” invented by the left, advocates the end of the state and identifies with Spain’s ultra-right party, Vox.
With more than 96% of the votes counted, he obtained 30.1%, followed by Peronist Sergio Massa, with 20.9% and the center-right Republican Proposal’s Patricia Bullrich, a member of the opposition coalition Together for Change, with almost 17%. The sum of votes between Bullrich and another Together for Change candidate, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, reached 28.3%, more than two points behind Milei. With its worst result in the primaries since 2011, Peronism came third, with 27.2%.
The August 13 primaries painted a three-party scenario, a novelty in a country dominated for years by two main coalitions: one led by Peronists and the other by the right wing, created by former president Mauricio Macri. Promising the end of the political elite, Milei’s gains have, however, changed the political landscape.
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