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| Argentines Vote in Presidential Primary | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BUENOS AIRES — Argentines voted to select presidential nominees on Sunday in a primary election that will gauge the nation’s desire for change after 12 years of the current president’s governing party. | |
| That party’s candidate, Daniel Scioli, is vying to succeed President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who cannot run for a third consecutive term. Mr. Scioli is widely expected to receive the most votes of any candidate across all parties. | That party’s candidate, Daniel Scioli, is vying to succeed President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who cannot run for a third consecutive term. Mr. Scioli is widely expected to receive the most votes of any candidate across all parties. |
| Partial returns were not available Sunday, and conclusive results were not expected until Monday. | Partial returns were not available Sunday, and conclusive results were not expected until Monday. |
| Argentina switched to a primary system in 2011. Voters — not just party members or officials — now decide which candidate from each major party or alliance will run in the presidential election, which will be held on Oct. 25. | Argentina switched to a primary system in 2011. Voters — not just party members or officials — now decide which candidate from each major party or alliance will run in the presidential election, which will be held on Oct. 25. |
| To avoid fissures in the governing Front for Victory, Mrs. Kirchner endorsed Mr. Scioli, 58, a former powerboat champion who lost his right arm in 1989 when his boat flipped during a race. After her endorsement, other party candidates withdrew. | To avoid fissures in the governing Front for Victory, Mrs. Kirchner endorsed Mr. Scioli, 58, a former powerboat champion who lost his right arm in 1989 when his boat flipped during a race. After her endorsement, other party candidates withdrew. |
| Mr. Scioli’s main rival, Mauricio Macri, 56, was expected to easily overcome challengers within his Cambiemos, or “Let’s Change,” alliance. | Mr. Scioli’s main rival, Mauricio Macri, 56, was expected to easily overcome challengers within his Cambiemos, or “Let’s Change,” alliance. |
| Carlos Germano, a political analyst, said that if Mr. Scioli wins about 40 percent of the vote, “he becomes an extremely difficult figure to overcome on Oct. 25.” | Carlos Germano, a political analyst, said that if Mr. Scioli wins about 40 percent of the vote, “he becomes an extremely difficult figure to overcome on Oct. 25.” |
| Management and Fit, an Argentine polling firm, predicted this month that Mr. Scioli would win 36 percent of the vote and the Cambiemos candidates would receive a total of 31 percent. It surveyed 2,400 people nationwide, and the margin of sampling error was 2 percentage points. | |
| Mrs. Kirchner comfortably won elections in 2007 and 2011, but discontent with her administration has increased in recent years. “The Front for Victory is very strong, but these elections are extremely competitive, unlike anything we’ve seen for a while in Argentina,” Mr. Germano said. | Mrs. Kirchner comfortably won elections in 2007 and 2011, but discontent with her administration has increased in recent years. “The Front for Victory is very strong, but these elections are extremely competitive, unlike anything we’ve seen for a while in Argentina,” Mr. Germano said. |
| To win in October without the need for a runoff, a candidate needs more than 45 percent of the vote, or 40 percent with a lead of more than 10 points. Advisers to Mr. Macri believe he is more capable than Mr. Scioli of attracting voters from beyond his base. Attracting votes from supporters of Sergio Massa, a third candidate who lost momentum after rising to prominence in midterm elections in 2013, will be crucial, analysts said. | To win in October without the need for a runoff, a candidate needs more than 45 percent of the vote, or 40 percent with a lead of more than 10 points. Advisers to Mr. Macri believe he is more capable than Mr. Scioli of attracting voters from beyond his base. Attracting votes from supporters of Sergio Massa, a third candidate who lost momentum after rising to prominence in midterm elections in 2013, will be crucial, analysts said. |
| Mr. Scioli, the governor of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina’s most populous, faces some challenges because of what are widely viewed as moves by Mrs. Kirchner to wield influence over him after she leaves office. | Mr. Scioli, the governor of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina’s most populous, faces some challenges because of what are widely viewed as moves by Mrs. Kirchner to wield influence over him after she leaves office. |
| Still, many voters here support the governing party because they believe the country is better off today than it was in 2003 after a severe crisis plunged millions into poverty. | Still, many voters here support the governing party because they believe the country is better off today than it was in 2003 after a severe crisis plunged millions into poverty. |
| “The truth is that the country is fine,” said Alexia Charchabukian, 33, a jewelry seller who voted at a school in Chacarita, a gritty neighborhood here. She cited Argentina’s rising middle class and Mrs. Kirchner’s drive to expand social benefits. | “The truth is that the country is fine,” said Alexia Charchabukian, 33, a jewelry seller who voted at a school in Chacarita, a gritty neighborhood here. She cited Argentina’s rising middle class and Mrs. Kirchner’s drive to expand social benefits. |
| Mr. Macri, who is the mayor of Buenos Aires, has gained support among voters who have voiced discontent in recent years with what they see as Mrs. Kirchner’s imperious style and other concerns, including accusations of corruption, inflation and perceptions that crime is on the rise. | Mr. Macri, who is the mayor of Buenos Aires, has gained support among voters who have voiced discontent in recent years with what they see as Mrs. Kirchner’s imperious style and other concerns, including accusations of corruption, inflation and perceptions that crime is on the rise. |
| “The country is not doing well,” said Patricia Caneva, 56, a private tutor of English who voted for Alejandro Bodart, a socialist. “The first term was good, but the second has been a struggle,” she said, pointing to the high inflation and to her irritation with Mrs. Kirchner’s antagonistic tone. | “The country is not doing well,” said Patricia Caneva, 56, a private tutor of English who voted for Alejandro Bodart, a socialist. “The first term was good, but the second has been a struggle,” she said, pointing to the high inflation and to her irritation with Mrs. Kirchner’s antagonistic tone. |
| The pace of growth here has slowed significantly after a boom from 2003 to 2011. | The pace of growth here has slowed significantly after a boom from 2003 to 2011. |
| Mr. Macri has said that if he is elected he will maintain some of Mrs. Kirchner’s cornerstone policies, including child benefits, and the nationalization of an oil company and an airline. He would also strengthen public institutions, his aides said, including Argentina’s politicized judiciary and the national statistics institute, whose data has in the past been criticized by the International Monetary Fund. | Mr. Macri has said that if he is elected he will maintain some of Mrs. Kirchner’s cornerstone policies, including child benefits, and the nationalization of an oil company and an airline. He would also strengthen public institutions, his aides said, including Argentina’s politicized judiciary and the national statistics institute, whose data has in the past been criticized by the International Monetary Fund. |
| Mr. Scioli is offering continuity, although his aides said he would gradually forge his own policies. He has been helped by the nationwide political machinery of the Front for Victory, while Mr. Macri has had to battle to win recognition beyond Buenos Aires. | Mr. Scioli is offering continuity, although his aides said he would gradually forge his own policies. He has been helped by the nationwide political machinery of the Front for Victory, while Mr. Macri has had to battle to win recognition beyond Buenos Aires. |