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<p>Voting for the presidential election in Argentina started on Sunday (Nov 19) as voters sought a solution to the triple-digit inflation and rising poverty. This election is a battle between embattled Economy Minister Sergio Massa and the libertarian outsider Javier Milei. The two leaders represent starkly different futures for Argentina. According to a report by the news agency AFP, polls showed Milei holds a slight advantage over Massa.</p>

<p>Irrespective of whoever wins, the election will shape the South American country's political landscape, its economic roadmap, trade in grains, lithium, and hydrocarbons, and its global ties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Julio Burdman, director of the consultancy Observatorio Electoral said that the election will mark a profound rupture in the system of political representation. "I think all the political forces as we have known them are going to be transformed," Burdman added.</p>

<h2><strong>New president will take office on Dec 10</strong></h2>

<p>The new president will take office on Dec 10. Massa, 51, is a seasoned politician seeking to convince citizens to trust him despite his performance as economy minister which saw Argentina's annual inflation hit a high of 143 per cent.</p>

<p>Milei, on the other hand, has vowed to halt Argentina's unbridled spending, ditch the peso for the US dollar, and "dynamite" the central bank. An economist by profession, Milei, 53, is a political newcomer who stunned observers by surging to the front of the electoral race just months ago, AFP reported.</p>

<p>His rants against traditional political parties in the country that have failed to halt decades of economic decline have fired up voters tired of the status quo.</p>

<p>Speaking to AFP, taxi driver Daniel Ayala rooted for Milei and said he was "tired of the corruption" of the ruling Peronist coalition -which Massa represents. The political newcomer previously said he was going to ditch those ministries entirely and was in favour of making it easier to carry guns and even sell human organs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the run-up to the election, Massa sought to distance himself from outgoing President Alberto Fernandez and his Vice President Cristina Kirchner, who was last year convicted of fraud.&nbsp;</p>

<p>AFP reported that the economy minister has portrayed himself as the calm, statesmanlike opposite of Milei. However, he was accused by analysts of abusing state resources to boost his electoral chances.</p>

<p>This included using ads to warn that transport prices would increase under Milei as well as slashing income taxes for almost the whole population and granting cash payouts to millions.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Voting for the presidential election in Argentina started on Sunday (Nov 19) as voters sought a solution to the triple-digit inflation and rising poverty. This election is a battle between embattled Economy Minister Sergio Massa and the libertarian outsider Javier Milei.

Voting for the presidential election in Argentina started on Sunday (Nov 19) as voters sought a solution to the triple-digit inflation and rising poverty. This election is a battle between embattled Economy Minister Sergio Massa and the libertarian outsider Javier Milei. The two leaders represent starkly different futures for Argentina. According to a report by the news agency AFP, polls showed Milei holds a slight advantage over Massa. Irrespective of whoever wins, the election will shape the South American country's political landscape, its economic roadmap, trade in grains, lithium, and hydrocarbons, and its global ties. Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Julio Burdman, director of the consultancy Observatorio Electoral said that the election will mark a profound rupture in the system of political representation. "I think all the political forces as we have known them are going to be transformed," Burdman added. New president will take office on Dec 10 The new president will take office on Dec 10. Massa, 51, is a seasoned politician seeking to convince citizens to trust him despite his performance as economy minister which saw Argentina's annual inflation hit a high of 143 per cent. Milei, on the other hand, has vowed to halt Argentina's unbridled spending, ditch the peso for the US dollar, and "dynamite" the central bank. An economist by profession, Milei, 53, is a political newcomer who stunned observers by surging to the front of the electoral race just months ago, AFP reported. His rants against traditional political parties in the country that have failed to halt decades of economic decline have fired up voters tired of the status quo. Speaking to AFP, taxi driver Daniel Ayala rooted for Milei and said he was "tired of the corruption" of the ruling Peronist coalition -which Massa represents. The political newcomer previously said he was going to ditch those ministries entirely and was in favour of making it easier to carry guns and even sell human organs. In the run-up to the election, Massa sought to distance himself from outgoing President Alberto Fernandez and his Vice President Cristina Kirchner, who was last year convicted of fraud. AFP reported that the economy minister has portrayed himself as the calm, statesmanlike opposite of Milei. However, he was accused by analysts of abusing state resources to boost his electoral chances. This included using ads to warn that transport prices would increase under Milei as well as slashing income taxes for almost the whole population and granting cash payouts to millions. (With inputs from agencies)

Argentina presidential run-off polling starts as voters seek respite from inflation, rising poverty

<p>Argentina voted in a general election on Sunday (Oct 22), with Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa posting a surprisingly strong first-place finish despite a major economic crisis, ahead of the wild-haired pre-vote favourite, radical libertarian Javier Milei.</p>

<p>Massa and Milei will go to a run-off vote on Nov 19 to take the presidency from mid-December, replacing outgoing center-left Peronist President Alberto Fernandez. Massa ended the night with 36.7 per cent of the vote versus Milei on around 30 per cent.</p>

<p>Conservative Patricia Bullrich, popular with the establishment and business circles, ended with some 24 per cent.</p>

<p>Here are some key takeaways:</p>

<h2><strong>Winners and losers&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The embattled ruling Peronist government is the big winner of the night, managing to pull off an escape act given it has overseen inflation near 140 per cent, net foreign currency reserves dropping below zero and two-fifths of Argentines in poverty.</p>

<p>Milei's supporters will feel deflated after he did less well than some expected, but he still got nearly 8 million votes - more than he achieved in the primary and a huge haul for a relative newcomer who only got into politics in 2021. He remains in the race for the second round.</p>

<p>The main conservative bloc's candidate, Bullrich, was the big loser of the election. The Together for Change coalition had once been the favourite to win the presidency, but saw its vote diluted by the abrupt rise of Milei.</p>

<h2><strong>Last two standing</strong></h2>

<p>Milei is a 53-year-old economist running for the libertarian La Libertad Avanza bloc, who often wears leather jackets and has drawn comparisons with former US President Donald Trump and Brazilian former leader Jair Bolsonaro for his abrasive style.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Argentina elections: Javier Milei fails to win first round of presidential election</strong></p>

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<p>Massa, the government's wheeler-dealer 51-year-old economy chief, represents the ruling Union por la Patria (UP) coalition. He is seen as a pragmatist within the Peronist movement, which has helped him win over more moderate votes.</p>

<h2><strong>Head-to-head battle looms</strong></h2>

<p>Massa goes into the second round with the momentum, but there's plenty to play for. Milei could pick up more of conservative Bullrich's 6.3 million voters, who are often highly critical of the big-government Peronist model.</p>

<p>Given Bullrich was in the middle of the three politically, both may have to moderate their stance to win her votes over. Juan Schiaretti, who got a higher-than-expected vote share of nearly 7 per cent, could also play an important king-maker role.</p>

<p>There is likely to be a heated campaign over the next month as the two remaining candidates pitch opposing plans for the economy. Massa pledges to protect the country's social safety net while Milei wants to "chainsaw" through a system that has left the country in its worst economic crisis in decades.</p>

<h2><strong>Polls can't be trusted</strong></h2>

<p>Once again the country's pollsters and pundits were caught cold by the result. Almost all pre-election polls had shown Milei in first place ahead of Massa, though they did get right the under-performance of Bullrich.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/argentina-ends-income-tax-offers-relief-worth-57bn-before-presidential-elections-640908"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Argentina ends income tax, offers relief worth $5.7 billion before presidential elections</strong></a></p>

<p>That comes after pollsters also failed to spot the rise of Milei in the August primaries, when he won a shock first place, and a major forecasting miss at the last election in 2019.</p>

<h2><strong>What's at stake?</strong></h2>

<p>Argentina's election race comes at a time of major uncertainty for the South American country facing its worst economic crisis in two decades. Milei wants to dollarize the economy and cut the size of government. Massa would stick with the peso and try to bolster the labour market and growth.</p>

<p>Any incoming government will have to resuscitate an economy facing triple-digit inflation, negative net foreign exchange reserves, and a sliding currency. Meanwhile, a $44 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund is creaking.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Argentina voted in a general election on Sunday (Oct 22), with Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa posting a surprisingly strong first-place finish despite a major economic crisis, ahead of the wild-haired pre-vote favourite, radical libertarian Javier Milei.

Argentina voted in a general election on Sunday (Oct 22), with Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa posting a surprisingly strong first-place finish despite a major economic crisis, ahead of the wild-haired pre-vote favourite, radical libertarian Javier Milei. Massa and Milei will go to a run-off vote on Nov 19 to take the presidency from mid-December, replacing outgoing center-left Peronist President Alberto Fernandez. Massa ended the night with 36.7 per cent of the vote versus Milei on around 30 per cent. Conservative Patricia Bullrich, popular with the establishment and business circles, ended with some 24 per cent. Here are some key takeaways: Winners and losers The embattled ruling Peronist government is the big winner of the night, managing to pull off an escape act given it has overseen inflation near 140 per cent, net foreign currency reserves dropping below zero and two-fifths of Argentines in poverty. Milei's supporters will feel deflated after he did less well than some expected, but he still got nearly 8 million votes - more than he achieved in the primary and a huge haul for a relative newcomer who only got into politics in 2021. He remains in the race for the second round. The main conservative bloc's candidate, Bullrich, was the big loser of the election. The Together for Change coalition had once been the favourite to win the presidency, but saw its vote diluted by the abrupt rise of Milei. Last two standing Milei is a 53-year-old economist running for the libertarian La Libertad Avanza bloc, who often wears leather jackets and has drawn comparisons with former US President Donald Trump and Brazilian former leader Jair Bolsonaro for his abrasive style. Watch: Argentina elections: Javier Milei fails to win first round of presidential election × Massa, the government's wheeler-dealer 51-year-old economy chief, represents the ruling Union por la Patria (UP) coalition. He is seen as a pragmatist within the Peronist movement, which has helped him win over more moderate votes. Head-to-head battle looms Massa goes into the second round with the momentum, but there's plenty to play for. Milei could pick up more of conservative Bullrich's 6.3 million voters, who are often highly critical of the big-government Peronist model. Given Bullrich was in the middle of the three politically, both may have to moderate their stance to win her votes over. Juan Schiaretti, who got a higher-than-expected vote share of nearly 7 per cent, could also play an important king-maker role. There is likely to be a heated campaign over the next month as the two remaining candidates pitch opposing plans for the economy. Massa pledges to protect the country's social safety net while Milei wants to "chainsaw" through a system that has left the country in its worst economic crisis in decades. Polls can't be trusted Once again the country's pollsters and pundits were caught cold by the result. Almost all pre-election polls had shown Milei in first place ahead of Massa, though they did get right the under-performance of Bullrich. Also read: Argentina ends income tax, offers relief worth $5.7 billion before presidential elections That comes after pollsters also failed to spot the rise of Milei in the August primaries, when he won a shock first place, and a major forecasting miss at the last election in 2019. What's at stake? Argentina's election race comes at a time of major uncertainty for the South American country facing its worst economic crisis in two decades. Milei wants to dollarize the economy and cut the size of government. Massa would stick with the peso and try to bolster the labour market and growth. Any incoming government will have to resuscitate an economy facing triple-digit inflation, negative net foreign exchange reserves, and a sliding currency. Meanwhile, a $44 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund is creaking. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Argentina presidential elections: Key takeaways, what's at stake and who are last two standing?

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Argentina presidential run-off polling starts as voters seek respite from inflation, rising poverty

Argentina presidential elections: Key takeaways, what's at stake and who are last two standing?