Milei Closer to Third Place Than Winner in Argentine First Round

In Argentina’s elections, with almost all votes counted, Libertarian Javier Milei secured second place with 29.98% of the votes.

Meanwhile, Economy Minister Sergio Massa took the lead with 36.68%. Patricia Bullrich, another contender, secured third place with 23.83%.

So what’s next? Both Milei and Massa must prepare for the second round. It’s scheduled for November 19. Before then, they face a big challenge.

They have to win over more voters. According to a September survey by San Andrés University, both candidates are not that popular.

Milei, for instance, has controversial views. He suggests policies like selling organs. This idea does not sit well with many, resulting in a high disapproval rate of 53%.

On the other side, Massa also faces skepticism. He’s been the Economy Minister during tough times for Argentina.

So, people wonder, can he really fix the problems he’s been part of? Still, Massa showed a surprising strength in the first round.

In a previous vote back in August, he had only received 21.43% support. His improved performance has turned heads.

However, winning over the public remains a tall task. Argentinians are dealing with high inflation.

This puts pressure on both candidates. Massa’s strategy, insiders say, aims to raise Milei’s disapproval numbers even higher.

Looking ahead, the second-round election will happen on November 19. The rules in Argentina are specific.

Before the main election, there are mandatory open primaries. These serve two purposes. First, they narrow down the number of candidates.

Second, they give a sense of how people might vote in the main event. These primary rules have been in place since 2009.

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