BUENOS AIRES, June 24 (Reuters) – The battle lines in Argentina’s presidential election have tightened after Economy Minister Sergio Massa entered the race in a dramatic late U-turn to face front-runners, such as a conservative city mayor, a former security czar, and a libertarian economist.
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, a deadline for candidates closes on Saturday night, marking the start in earnest of a race to the Oct. 22 general election to elect a leader who can lead the country South American economic crisis, with inflation. more than 100%, the increase in poverty and the decrease in foreign exchange reserves.
On August 13 there will be a primary vote within the political blocs, a vote that will also be a key return test of voter sentiment, with the ruling Peronist alliance reeling in opinion polls while the economy conflict fight
The most notable late confirmation has been Economy Minister Sergio Massa, whose candidacy was somewhat unexpectedly announced on Friday night.
“This completely changes the political scene,” said Alejandro Corbacho, director of the political science program at Universitat Argentina UCEMA. “He has the support of significant business sectors here and will be a competitive candidate.”
The ruling party announced Massa and Chief of Staff Agustín Rossi as a unified coalition ticket just a day after Interior Minister Eduardo ‘Wado’ de Pedro announced his candidacy and Ambassador to Brazil Daniel Scioli, reaffirmed his decision to run. Neither has publicly ended their candidacy. Both were probing behind Massa.
Competing to lead the main block of the conservative opposition – which leads the general polls – is the moderate mayor of the city of Buenos Aires, Horacio Larreta, and the former security minister, Patricia Bullrich. Behind them is the centrist deputy Facundo Manes.
Bullrich, who touted party unity at a press conference on Friday and later blamed Massa for the country’s economic woes, promised wholesale change if he won.
“This ticket is committed to profound change,” he said. “Argentina needs leaders with conviction because the problems to be solved are profound.”
Libertarian economist Javier Milei, the single most popular candidate in the polls with many voters fed up with the political status quo, presents a tough challenge to all of them. His party is still in third place overall. He has pledged to dollarize the economy and abandon the central bank.
“He makes life difficult for the other two coalitions because he will take votes away from them,” said Argentine political consultant Carlos Fara, adding that his personal charisma could be tempered, however, by his narrower party structure.
Larreta, Bullrich and Massa are roughly tied in the polls, with Milei slightly ahead. With no candidate or party polling above 50%, the October election is likely to lead to a runoff, with everything to play for.
Report by Anna-Catherine Brigida; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Jacqueline Wong
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