Javier Milei, representing the opposition party La Libertad Avanza, claimed victory in Argentina’s runoff election.
His opponent was Sergio Massa, from the ruling party Unión por la Patria. Milei’s win marks a shift in Argentina’s leadership. He will start his four-year term as president in December.
Official results show Milei got 55.78% of votes. Massa received 44.21%. This count was after 95.84% of votes were tallied. The election day was peaceful, with a high turnout of 76.35%.
Milei takes over from Alberto Fernández. His presidency begins on December 10 and ends in 2027.
Massa conceded the race early. He congratulated Milei, recognizing him as the people’s choice for the next four years.
Massa spoke from his party’s headquarters in Villa Crespo. He stressed the need for dialogue and peace.
Massa also discussed transition plans with the current President Fernández. They aim to start the transition process on Monday. This move ensures a smooth change in leadership.
The primary elections opened at 8 AM local time. They continued for 12 hours. Over 104,000 polling stations were set up across the country.
More than 35 million Argentinians were eligible to vote. The election was secure, with 86,000 military and security staff on duty.
Milei’s Victory and Plans for Argentina
After winning the runoff election, the President-elect stated, “Argentina has a future, and it is a liberal one.”
In his victory speech, he said, “Today marks the start of Argentina’s rebuilding. It’s a historic night.
I thank everyone who made this possible, especially our two-year-old team working towards a liberal libertarian president.”
He emphasized a shift from the notion that the state is a prize for politicians and their allies. Milei declared, “We are embracing freedom again. The decline ends today.”
Milei called for a new chapter, aiming to make Argentina a global power in 35 years.
Speaking from his campaign headquarters, he promised to address the country’s economic crisis, including a 120% inflation rate in the first ten months, as per official data.
“The situation is dire. There’s no room for gradual measures,” he said, acknowledging poverty, homelessness, and urban insecurity as urgent challenges.
Milei seeks a government that honors commitments, respects private property, and supports free trade. He criticized the impoverishing model of the political elite.
He welcomed all who wanted to join the new Argentina. Milei warned those resisting change, saying, “Within the law, everything; outside it, nothing.”
Milei promised to start working on solutions for Argentinians immediately after the celebration.
Voting centers opened at 8 AM local time, remaining active for 12 hours. Over 104,000 polling stations were set up, with 35.4 million citizens eligible to vote.
The elections were secured by 86,000 military and security personnel.
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