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| Argentinian president's successor wins primaries but voters remain divided | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Cristina Fernández’s chosen successor has easily won Argentina’s open primaries, but the results underscored that voters remain deeply divided over who could best tackle the country’s myriad economic problems. | |
| With 93% of ballots counted, Daniel Scioli was leading with 38% of the vote. Mauricio Macri and others in his “Let’s Change” coalition topped opposition candidates with about 30%, while Sergio Massa garnered 20%. | |
| Related: Murder and drug trafficking allegations cast pall over Argentina primary election | Related: Murder and drug trafficking allegations cast pall over Argentina primary election |
| All candidates competed on the same ballot, with the top finishers from each party qualifying for the 25 October general election. That meant Sunday’s primaries were essentially a giant national poll. | All candidates competed on the same ballot, with the top finishers from each party qualifying for the 25 October general election. That meant Sunday’s primaries were essentially a giant national poll. |
| “No matter how you look at it, the only truth is the reality,” Scioli told supporters early Monday, paraphrasing famous words by former President Juan Domingo Perón, founder of the ruling political movement. “And the reality is that we have a big margin over our adversaries.” | “No matter how you look at it, the only truth is the reality,” Scioli told supporters early Monday, paraphrasing famous words by former President Juan Domingo Perón, founder of the ruling political movement. “And the reality is that we have a big margin over our adversaries.” |
| Still, Scioli’s margin would not be enough to win election in the first round, which would require either 45% of the vote or 40% and a 10-point margin over the runner-up. A November runoff would likely benefit Macri, who might pick up the votes from Argentinians who initially supported other opposition candidates. | |
| “We deserve to live better. Our children deserve a better country,” Macri told supporters. “And to do that we know that we need better government.” | “We deserve to live better. Our children deserve a better country,” Macri told supporters. “And to do that we know that we need better government.” |
| The South American nation is struggling with inflation that independent analysts put at over 30%, and the Argentinian peso has slid sharply against the American dollar. A longstanding dispute with US hedge funds has kept foreign investors away. | |
| “When are we going to finally become a serious country?” said Adrian Williams, a 51-year-old camera technician who said he was voting for Macri. “Just look at the inflation. It’s crazy.” | “When are we going to finally become a serious country?” said Adrian Williams, a 51-year-old camera technician who said he was voting for Macri. “Just look at the inflation. It’s crazy.” |
| Scioli, the governor of the Buenos Aires province and a former vice-president, won Fernández’s endorsement in June. He has praised her policies but also promised to make reforms where necessary and be more amicable in dealings with other countries. | Scioli, the governor of the Buenos Aires province and a former vice-president, won Fernández’s endorsement in June. He has praised her policies but also promised to make reforms where necessary and be more amicable in dealings with other countries. |
| Macri, the former mayor of Buenos Aires and ex-president of the popular Boca Juniors soccer club, has promised to attract foreign investment by making the country more business friendly and lifting restrictions on citizens’ ability to buy US dollars – a promise the government and some economists say isn’t realistic. | Macri, the former mayor of Buenos Aires and ex-president of the popular Boca Juniors soccer club, has promised to attract foreign investment by making the country more business friendly and lifting restrictions on citizens’ ability to buy US dollars – a promise the government and some economists say isn’t realistic. |
| Two weeks ago, Macri did an about-face by saying he now supported Fernández’s state takeovers of the Aerolineas Argentinas airline and the YPF oil company. The move was widely interpreted as an acknowledgement that Macri couldn’t run as an anti-Fernández candidate when a large part of the electorate continues to support her. | Two weeks ago, Macri did an about-face by saying he now supported Fernández’s state takeovers of the Aerolineas Argentinas airline and the YPF oil company. The move was widely interpreted as an acknowledgement that Macri couldn’t run as an anti-Fernández candidate when a large part of the electorate continues to support her. |
| Massa, who held cabinet and elective posts before breaking with Fernández, has tried to distinguish himself by promising to jail corrupt politicians. | Massa, who held cabinet and elective posts before breaking with Fernández, has tried to distinguish himself by promising to jail corrupt politicians. |
| Scioli was buoyed by Fernández’s endorsement, but her blessing could be a pyrrhic victory since the polarizing leader has both a rabid following and many vociferous critics. | Scioli was buoyed by Fernández’s endorsement, but her blessing could be a pyrrhic victory since the polarizing leader has both a rabid following and many vociferous critics. |
| Fernández is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. Her late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, was elected in 2003 and served one term before she ran. The couple is widely credited with lifting Argentina after one of its worst moments, a $100bn default in late 2001 that forced a run on the banks and wiped out the savings of many citizens. | Fernández is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. Her late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, was elected in 2003 and served one term before she ran. The couple is widely credited with lifting Argentina after one of its worst moments, a $100bn default in late 2001 that forced a run on the banks and wiped out the savings of many citizens. |
| But detractors say Fernández’s policies, which include gas and transportation subsidies, along with perks for single mothers and periodic pension increases, have contributed to heavy inflation. There is also fatigue with her combative rhetoric. | But detractors say Fernández’s policies, which include gas and transportation subsidies, along with perks for single mothers and periodic pension increases, have contributed to heavy inflation. There is also fatigue with her combative rhetoric. |
| “The president talks and talks, but all she has done is leave us bankrupt,” said Jorge Fernández, 75, a flower salesman who said he was so disgusted with the political climate that he didn’t vote. | “The president talks and talks, but all she has done is leave us bankrupt,” said Jorge Fernández, 75, a flower salesman who said he was so disgusted with the political climate that he didn’t vote. |
| Candidates were also vying for several governor and congressional races. Only candidates with at least 1.5% of the vote in their respective races can continue to the general elections, in effect eliminating many small-party candidates. | |
| The election was held under heavy rains and turnout was low by local standards, which means millions more will likely vote in October. Election authorities said about 74% of those eligible cast ballots. Voting is mandatory, though there are several exceptions and most violators at most pay a small fine. | The election was held under heavy rains and turnout was low by local standards, which means millions more will likely vote in October. Election authorities said about 74% of those eligible cast ballots. Voting is mandatory, though there are several exceptions and most violators at most pay a small fine. |