Massa Leading Milei In Argentina Presidential Election

L| Sergio Massa Holds Rally Ahead of Sunday Presidential Elections in Argentina
SARANDI, ARGENTINA - OCTOBER 17: Presidential candidate of Union Por La Patria and current Minister of Economy Sergio Massa speaks to supporters during a rally to commemorate Peronist Loyalty Day ahead of Sunday presidential elections at Julio Humberto Grondona Stadium on October 17, 2023 in Sarandi, Argentina. (Photo by Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images) R | Argentinians Head To Polls In Presidential Election Amidst Surging Inflation And Social Crisis
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - OCTOBER 22: Presidential candidate for La Libertad Avanza Javier Milei speaks after the general elections on October 22, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to official results, presidential candidate for Union Por La Patria Sergio Massa has 36,50% of the votes and presidential candidate for La Libertad Avanza Javier Milei 30,09%, with 95,54% of the voting counted. Massa and Milei will compete in the presidential runoff on November 19, 2023. The presidential election to succeed Alberto Fernandez comes as Argentinians have been hard hit by an annual 124% inflation and over 40% of the population is considered to be living in poverty. (Photo by Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images)
L| Sergio Massa (Photo by Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images) R | Javier Milei (Photo by Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi 
11:22 AM – Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Economy Minister Sergio Massa is leading Libertarian Radical Javier Milei in the race for the next president of Argentina.

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On Sunday, Argentinian citizens headed to the polls to vote for the next election where Massa had 36.6% of the vote, ahead of Milei who had just over 30%, while conservative Patricia Bullrich was behind with 23.8%. Nearly 98% of the vote has been counted.

The results came as a surprise as pre-election polls had predicted that Milei would be ahead of the race. 

Massa, who is now in office, juggles a hefty ministerial portfolio that includes inflation control, soybeans (the country’s principal export), and Argentina’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund.

In comparison to the present government coalition, he has tried to frame himself as a more pragmatic voice from the left, and has moved to separate himself politically from Argentina’s high-profile vice-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner without losing her power base.

Massa was predicted to finish second at best after annual inflation exceeded 138% with more than 40% of the population living in poverty while he was the economy minister. 

Meanwhile, Milei has proposed measures such as the dollarization of the economy and has insulted major trading partners like China and Brazil. He also supports reducing the size of government and is anti-abortion.

He has promised to “chainsaw” the economic and political status quo, drawing some disgruntled voters who are fed up with growing costs outpacing wages.

United States conservatives have voiced their support for Milei as the votes continue to be counted.

To avoid a run-off election on November 19th, a candidate must receive 45% of the vote on Sunday, or 40% with a 10-point or greater margin over the nearest rival.

According to exit poll data, it is likely that the vote will go into a run-off vote. 

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