Argentine President Javier Milei’s party secured a significant victory in Buenos Aires on Sunday. This city had long supported the center-right. However, voters rejected their traditional choice. Instead, they backed Milei’s radical libertarian group, La Libertad Avanza (LLA).
Adorni Secures Victory
Milei’s spokesperson and lead candidate, Manuel Adorni, won more than 30% of the vote. As a result, he defeated the center-right Republican Proposal (PRO) party. Notably, PRO had ruled the capital for 18 years under former President Mauricio Macri.
Meanwhile, LLA announced it received twice as many votes as it did in the 2023 local election.
Celebrations Follow the Upset
At the celebration rally, loud Argentine rock music filled the air. Then, Milei leapt onto the stage, pumping his fists to excite the crowd.
“Today is a pivotal day for the ideas of freedom,” he shouted.
PRO Party Falls Behind
This outcome marked a heavy blow for Macri’s PRO party. Their candidate, Silvia Lospennato, finished third with just 15.9% of the vote.
“The results are not as expected. We have a lot of work ahead of us,” she admitted.
In contrast, Argentina’s Peronist party took second place with a little over 27%. Though usually weak in Buenos Aires, they benefited from the split in right-wing support.
Analysts Weigh In
According to political analyst Juan Cruz Díaz, the Peronists are still relevant. “The Peronist party is far from dead with this result,” he explained.
However, he also emphasized, “The main takeaway… is the fight for dominance in the center-right and the strong victory over the PRO party.”
Approximately 2.5 million people were eligible to vote. Still, turnout was low at only 53%.
Local Race Reflects Global Trends
This local election reflected more than city politics. It also mirrored global patterns, where far-right parties are gaining ground. “It turned into a crucial battle for the political leadership,” noted analyst Ignacio Labaqui. Indeed, this outcome showed how hard-right groups are challenging the political center, just like in parts of Europe and the United States.
Milei Strengthens His Position
With this victory, Milei’s party becomes the leading opponent to the Peronist movement. That movement was once led by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. During her presidency, Argentina experienced huge public spending and high deficits.
In his speech, Adorni said, “What this election yielded is that society understands we’re the best way to end Kirchnerism for good, which was nothing but a tragedy for Argentina.”
Focus Now Shifts to Midterms
This win boosts Milei’s momentum ahead of October’s midterm elections. There, he hopes to increase LLA’s small presence in Congress and pass major reforms.
Milei, a former TV pundit, launched LLA only four years ago. Even so, he attracted new faces who supported his anti-establishment ideas. Currently, LLA holds just 15% of lower house seats and 10% in the Senate. Therefore, Milei had to cooperate with Macri to advance his policies.
Milei-Macri Alliance Breaks Down
At first, Macri helped Milei. He provided ministers and connected him with conservative voters. But later, their relationship soured. For example, Milei tried to install a controversial judge on the Supreme Court by bypassing Congress. This move sparked conflict.
Macri began to publicly criticize Milei. “Putting the economy in order is not enough. We must strengthen institutions, be predictable and regain respect for one another,” he said.
Deepfake Sparks Election Day Scandal
On election day, Macri’s party filed a complaint. A fake AI-generated video showed Macri withdrawing his candidate and endorsing Adorni. The video went viral.
Although the source remains unclear, Macri blamed Milei’s supporters. He accused them of “breaking all the rules.” Later, Buenos Aires’ electoral court ordered Elon Musk’s social platform X to remove the video. However, X has not responded yet.