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| As Argentina Selects a New President, Moderation Is Expected | As Argentina Selects a New President, Moderation Is Expected |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| BUENOS AIRES — Voters across Argentina headed to the polls in a national election on Sunday, choosing among candidates vowing to seek consensus as the polarizing presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner nears an end. | |
| Daniel Scioli, a former vice president who was endorsed by Mrs. Kirchner, went into the presidential election as the front-runner, casting himself as her government’s heir while hinting he would mend a long dispute with foreign creditors. His top rivals are Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires and a former president of one of Argentina’s most popular soccer clubs, and Sergio Massa, a former ally of Mrs. Kirchner’s who moved into the opposition. | Daniel Scioli, a former vice president who was endorsed by Mrs. Kirchner, went into the presidential election as the front-runner, casting himself as her government’s heir while hinting he would mend a long dispute with foreign creditors. His top rivals are Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires and a former president of one of Argentina’s most popular soccer clubs, and Sergio Massa, a former ally of Mrs. Kirchner’s who moved into the opposition. |
| With Mrs. Kirchner, 62, constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, the leading candidates ran carefully orchestrated campaigns that seemed to reflect a longing in the electorate for a break with her divisive governing style. Mrs. Kirchner intensified attacks on opponents in the news media and business establishment after succeeding her late husband, Néstor Kirchner, as president in 2007. | With Mrs. Kirchner, 62, constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, the leading candidates ran carefully orchestrated campaigns that seemed to reflect a longing in the electorate for a break with her divisive governing style. Mrs. Kirchner intensified attacks on opponents in the news media and business establishment after succeeding her late husband, Néstor Kirchner, as president in 2007. |
| “More moderation is expected as the Kirchner era comes to a close,” said Mariel Fornoni, director of Management and Fit, a leading polling company. “There’s an enormous desire in society for less polarization.” | “More moderation is expected as the Kirchner era comes to a close,” said Mariel Fornoni, director of Management and Fit, a leading polling company. “There’s an enormous desire in society for less polarization.” |
| Mr. Scioli, 58, a former speedboat racer, sought to appeal to Mrs. Kirchner’s supporters by contending that he did not plan any abrupt policy shifts. Lacking her combative rhetorical spirit, he came across as a safe option for many voters who want continuity for programs that have increased social welfare spending over the past 12 years. | Mr. Scioli, 58, a former speedboat racer, sought to appeal to Mrs. Kirchner’s supporters by contending that he did not plan any abrupt policy shifts. Lacking her combative rhetorical spirit, he came across as a safe option for many voters who want continuity for programs that have increased social welfare spending over the past 12 years. |
| “Scioli is with the poor people,” said María Rosa González, 66, a maid who voted for him on Sunday. She explained that her late father, a corn harvester, had been able to claim a state pension under a 2005 law supported by the Kirchners in which workers who had not paid contributions could collect retirement benefits. “This government helped the people. It’s on display.” | “Scioli is with the poor people,” said María Rosa González, 66, a maid who voted for him on Sunday. She explained that her late father, a corn harvester, had been able to claim a state pension under a 2005 law supported by the Kirchners in which workers who had not paid contributions could collect retirement benefits. “This government helped the people. It’s on display.” |
| Economists here argue over the costs of such policies, with some saying that Mrs. Kirchner’s successor will have to grapple with galloping inflation and a yawning budget deficit. But her supporters say that antipoverty spending was badly needed in the country after a chaotic economic collapse and political turmoil in 2001 and 2002. | Economists here argue over the costs of such policies, with some saying that Mrs. Kirchner’s successor will have to grapple with galloping inflation and a yawning budget deficit. But her supporters say that antipoverty spending was badly needed in the country after a chaotic economic collapse and political turmoil in 2001 and 2002. |
| Mrs. Kirchner still holds considerable sway, emerging as one of Argentina’s strongest leaders in recent decades. She has recently moved to enhance her power through a calculated series of moves, potentially casting her shadow over the management of the economy and foreign policy well after she is scheduled to leave office in December. | Mrs. Kirchner still holds considerable sway, emerging as one of Argentina’s strongest leaders in recent decades. She has recently moved to enhance her power through a calculated series of moves, potentially casting her shadow over the management of the economy and foreign policy well after she is scheduled to leave office in December. |
| While voting unfolded peacefully around the country, the first official results were not expected until late Sunday night. To avoid a runoff vote in November, a candidate needs more than 45 percent of the vote or 40 percent and a larger than 10-point margin over the nearest rival. If the results are tight, a second count could be needed, producing days of delays in determining the outcome. | While voting unfolded peacefully around the country, the first official results were not expected until late Sunday night. To avoid a runoff vote in November, a candidate needs more than 45 percent of the vote or 40 percent and a larger than 10-point margin over the nearest rival. If the results are tight, a second count could be needed, producing days of delays in determining the outcome. |
| Either way, many voters and analysts here were struck as much by the similarities among the leading candidates as their differences, reflecting strategies of offering a nonthreatening alternative to Mrs. Kirchner’s commanding presence. Even Mr. Macri, who ran to the right of his rivals, sought to appeal to supporters of Peronism, the ideologically diverse political grouping that dominates Argentine politics. | Either way, many voters and analysts here were struck as much by the similarities among the leading candidates as their differences, reflecting strategies of offering a nonthreatening alternative to Mrs. Kirchner’s commanding presence. Even Mr. Macri, who ran to the right of his rivals, sought to appeal to supporters of Peronism, the ideologically diverse political grouping that dominates Argentine politics. |
| Kirchnerismo, the leftist movement named for the Kirchners, came to overshadow other factions aligned with Peronism, which originated decades ago during the rule of Juan Domingo Perón. Mindful of the hazards of opposing Peronist power brokers, the three men adopted reserved campaign styles, leading some to suggest that a composite candidate could easily be made of Mr. Scioli, Mr. Macri and Mr. Massa. | Kirchnerismo, the leftist movement named for the Kirchners, came to overshadow other factions aligned with Peronism, which originated decades ago during the rule of Juan Domingo Perón. Mindful of the hazards of opposing Peronist power brokers, the three men adopted reserved campaign styles, leading some to suggest that a composite candidate could easily be made of Mr. Scioli, Mr. Macri and Mr. Massa. |
| “He is an amiable, middle-of-the road, middle-class, middle-aged and fairly athletic bloke of Italian extraction who, with a winning smile, tells us that the country can easily overcome all its many economic and social problems,” James Neilson wrote in a column in The Buenos Aires Herald. | “He is an amiable, middle-of-the road, middle-class, middle-aged and fairly athletic bloke of Italian extraction who, with a winning smile, tells us that the country can easily overcome all its many economic and social problems,” James Neilson wrote in a column in The Buenos Aires Herald. |
| A selection of toned-down candidates suited some voters just fine. “He’s less bellicose, less divisive,” said Nicolás Quadri, 28, an architect who voted for Mr. Macri, contending the candidate would have “more logical international policies.” | A selection of toned-down candidates suited some voters just fine. “He’s less bellicose, less divisive,” said Nicolás Quadri, 28, an architect who voted for Mr. Macri, contending the candidate would have “more logical international policies.” |