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Argentina election exit polls show victory for Buenos Aires mayor Macri Argentina election exit polls show victory for Buenos Aires mayor Macri
(about 1 hour later)
Argentina appeared set for a political shift to the right in Sunday’s presidential election, with Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri of the Cambiemos (“Let’s Change”) party on course for victory. After 12 years of leftist government, Argentina shifted towards the centre-right on Sunday by giving a presidential victory to Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri of the Cambiemos (Let’s Change) party.
Related: Argentina election: second round vote could spell end for 'Kirchnerism'Related: Argentina election: second round vote could spell end for 'Kirchnerism'
With balloting closed, the former president of the Boca Juniors football club was on course to win the country’s first run-off by a margin of five to eight percentage points over his centre-left rival Daniel Scioli, according to two surveys conducted by TV stations. With 25 per cent of the vote counted, Macri was 9 points ahead. With 85% of the vote counted, the former chief executive of the Boca Juniors football club was on 52.5%, more than five points ahead of his rival Daniel Scioli of the Peronist Victory Front.
If confirmed by official results later in the evening, Macri’s win would be the first change in government in 12 years. Argentinian politics has been dominated by the populist, leftwing policies of the outgoing president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and her husband Néstor Kirchner, who died in 2010. The result is likely to reverberate across Latin America.
The consequences of a change could be enormous. Macri has promised to introduce pro-business policies, reduce inflation, cut deals with foreign creditors and realign Argentina’s foreign policy away from Venezuela and Iran and closer to the US. He has indicated that he will adopt a less confrontational stance with Britain over the Falkland Islands. In his victory speech, the winner promised to boost the economy, tackle narco-trafficking and defend democracy.
He has also promised better management to improve living conditions, strengthen institutions and fight poverty. “This is a historic day,” said Macri, who will next month replace Christina Fernández de Kircher in the Casa Rosada presidential palace. “What emotion, what happiness, what hope.”
“This is an enormous joy and I feel we are living a historic day that will change our lives,” Macri said at his local polling station in the capital’s Palermo district. “I hope Argentina is about to enter a new era.” Thousands of campaigners cheered and danced in the Macri campaign bunker as the results came in. Outside, supporters banged drums and honked car horns in jubilation.
His supporters, who were gathered in front of a giant TV screen, were jubilant as hopes of victory mounted. Salsa boomed from loudspeakers and the crowd cheered as the exit polls were broadcast.
Critics fear Macri plans a return to the neo-liberal policies of the now almost universally reviled 1990s president Carlos Menem, when state utilities were privatised and huge numbers of state employees laid off as part of a free market programme that ended with economic collapse in 2002.Critics fear Macri plans a return to the neo-liberal policies of the now almost universally reviled 1990s president Carlos Menem, when state utilities were privatised and huge numbers of state employees laid off as part of a free market programme that ended with economic collapse in 2002.
Scioli – who was hand-picked by the outgoing president – has criticised his rival as a representative of “savage capitalism” and warned that social benefits would be cut if the Casa Rosada changed hands.Scioli – who was hand-picked by the outgoing president – has criticised his rival as a representative of “savage capitalism” and warned that social benefits would be cut if the Casa Rosada changed hands.
Since 2003, it has been the home of the Kirchners. Elected during a “pink tide” of leftist administrations in Latin America, Nestor Kirchner initially made impressive gains, securing deals with most of Argentina’s creditors, reducing inequality, boosting employment and supporting closer regional integration.Since 2003, it has been the home of the Kirchners. Elected during a “pink tide” of leftist administrations in Latin America, Nestor Kirchner initially made impressive gains, securing deals with most of Argentina’s creditors, reducing inequality, boosting employment and supporting closer regional integration.
However, with his death in 2010, Argentina’s economy lost momentum, inflation surged to around 30% and poverty appears to be creeping back. Fernández has fought a series of bruising battles with the country’s biggest media group, Clarin.However, with his death in 2010, Argentina’s economy lost momentum, inflation surged to around 30% and poverty appears to be creeping back. Fernández has fought a series of bruising battles with the country’s biggest media group, Clarin.
The 32 million eligible voters had to weigh up whether Scioli or Macri could improve the situation.The 32 million eligible voters had to weigh up whether Scioli or Macri could improve the situation.
“We need a change,” said Luciana Esteruelas, a hotel employee who planned to vote against the ruling camp. “Cristina did some good things in the beginning. But there have been more problems in the last few years. It’s time to give someone else a chance.”“We need a change,” said Luciana Esteruelas, a hotel employee who planned to vote against the ruling camp. “Cristina did some good things in the beginning. But there have been more problems in the last few years. It’s time to give someone else a chance.”
Others feared a vote for Macri could mark a weaker stance on human rights, particularly regarding the victims of Argentina’s dictatorship, which ruled from 1976 to 1983.Others feared a vote for Macri could mark a weaker stance on human rights, particularly regarding the victims of Argentina’s dictatorship, which ruled from 1976 to 1983.
“I will vote for Scioli, convinced I will be doing the right thing,” said Víctor Basterra, a survivor of the former ESMA navy school, where some 5,000 people were murdered in the 1970s. “To do the opposite would be a kind of suicide”.“I will vote for Scioli, convinced I will be doing the right thing,” said Víctor Basterra, a survivor of the former ESMA navy school, where some 5,000 people were murdered in the 1970s. “To do the opposite would be a kind of suicide”.