Election in Buenos Aires Brand Migration from Macri’s electorate to Milei

The Legislative Elections of Buenos Aires last Sunday (18) marked the evolution of the La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party, by President Javier Milei, against the Republican proposal (Pro), led by former President Mauricio Macri, in the right field, while Peronism was consolidated as the main opposition force by controlling a third of the chairs of district deputies.

The claim renews 30 of the 60 chairs of the local legislature. With 99.8% of the investigation, according to the Argentino newspaper Page12the list of candidates headed by Manuel Adorni (LLA), Milei’s mayor, received 30.1% of the votes, Leandro Santoro’s peronist list (Unión by La Patria) had 27.4% and the list of Macri candidates led by Silvia Lospenato (Pro) was 15.9% – the three main forces that elected candidates in this partial election.

Voters were able to opt for 17 lists of candidates in the Single Electronics System (BUE), where the first candidate’s photo is highlighted, with some groupings including up to three faces. The new elected must take over December 10.

Read more: Argentine trade unionist says that strike reveals popular reaction to Milei’s project

The result indicates Peronism as the greatest political force of the house by making new 10 chairs and reaching 20 deputies, two more than in the previous legislature. Thus, the Unión by La Patria (UXP) coalition that brings together the left and center left parties, such as Cristina Kirchner’s Justicialist Party, is strengthened in opposition to local government and control that tends to stay in the right hands through compositions.

The freedom ultraliberals advanced 11 seats and reached 13, five more than they had before. The candidate who led the list, Manuel Adorni, is the current presidential spokesman in Argentina.

The Pro, although suffered a historic defeat in absolute terms, advanced in 3 deputies and reached 10. The difference is that in previous governments, the Pro had a great composition of allies who made most positions and preside over the house, as in the current legislature, where it adds 28 positions.

The next chamber will still consist of: 5 deputies of Larretismo (former mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta group before Pro); UCR with 5 chairs; Left front with 2 and other parties that total 5 more vacancies.

The renewal of only half of the chairs of the city of Buenos Aires is the result of a staggered renewal system established by the city’s constitution and aims to ensure continuity and stability in the legislative process.

Defeat do ‘macrismo’

Since 2007 the Argentine capital has been controlled by the pro, being the main command post of macrism. However, the election of the last weekend presented a clamorous defeat to the group, which rivaled the LLA in the dispute to try to maintain its influence within the right and the ultraliberal of the country.

This election is considered a preview for national legislative elections in October, so the great attention in it. Purposely, the Macri group took place this election of the national calendar. The head of government of the autonomous city of Buenos Aires (equivalent to a mayor), Jorge Macri, cousin of the former president, anticipated the elections to prevent the nationalization of the dispute also in the capital, as a way to prevent a defeat in his family’s bastion.

But the maneuver was no use. Javier Milei entered the dispute to snap up Pro voters and the campaign dropped level with both fronts exchanging accusations, including the use of fake news and artificial intelligence in an attempt to manipulate the electorate.

But what caught the most attention was Mauricio Macri and Pro’s inability to hit a speech as opposed to Milei, as the former president’s support was decisive for the current campaign in the second round of elections in November 2023.

Argentine political analysts have evaluated this vote as a historical defeat for the Pro and an anticipation of how the October national legislative elections may be in Argentina. With the ultra -liberal commanded by Milei ahead in this dispute, the president aims to put himself as the only anti -peroner candidate, moving away from any rise from Macri and Pro.

Communes

Of the 15 communes of the capital Buenos Aires (division of the 48 neighborhoods), the Pro, which had previously won in 14, this time did not win in any.

Already the LLA won in 9 of them, the most located north and also in the center. The Peronist side won in 6 communes, those of the south and some from the center.

Biggest winner was abstention

The election was marked by the low participation: only 53% of voters attended. Thus, with 47% abstention, this was the slightest attendance in the history of this election, revealing the great disinterest of the population. They were able to vote 2.5 million.