Presidential elections in Argentina 2023 - statistics & facts
November 19, 2023, marked the day when over 25 million Argentinians exercised their democratic right to vote by electing a new president in the balotage or the second round. After the October 22 elections results, voters were able to choose between Sergio Massa (Unión por la Patria) and Javier Milei (La Libertad Avanza). This occasion comes after four years under the leadership of Alberto Fernández, who is now preparing to step down from the esteemed position and pass the command to a new leader after being known to have led the country to reach its highest inflation rate resulting in a common disapproval from the population on his government. The results were not that close, even after coming second during the first round, Milei was elected president of Argentina with 55,69 percent of the votes, with more than 10 percentage points of advantage over Massa.
When it comes to the polls, Milei's strong support among the youth translates into a sizeable advantage in terms of popularity. With his liberal ideology resonating with a significant portion of the population, he is expected to garner a significant number of votes in the presidential election. As of June 2023, La Libertad Avanza had the support of 31 percent of Argentinians under 30 years old. After the PASO, primary elections, results, Milei came surprisingly victorious over opposition, nonetheless, the first round presented a clear advantage from Massa. Nonetheless of the result, both candidates will need the support of "Juntos por el Cambio" after the elections.
Compounding the economic challenges, Argentina faces a pervasive perception of corruption. The corruption index, ranking 38 on a scale from zero to 100 (with zero representing the worst score), places the country among the 15 most corrupt nations in Latin America. Instances of corruption involve public officials engaging in illicit activities such as kickbacks on public procurement and embezzlement of public funds. The prevailing economic situation has had tangible consequences on the country's crime landscape. Robberies and thefts targeting personal property have become some of the most prevalent crimes in various regions. The combination of economic strain, rising poverty rates, and a perception of corruption fosters an environment conducive to criminal activities.
Kirchnerism, despite all the problems
Sergio Massa, former Minister of Economy, holds a prominent position in the upcoming elections. Massa was selected as the candidate for the Unión por la Patria coalition, that elected current president Alberto Fernández. This union presents itself as the continuation of Kirchnerism ideology, prioritizing income redistribution, social inclusion, and economic revitalization. However, Argentina's mounting public debt to the IMF has led to economic challenges in the region, prompting widespread calls for debt renegotiation. As of 2023, Argentina is one of the Latin American countries with the highest public debt as a share of GDP. In addition to the campaign challenge of Cristina Kirchner, former president and current vice-president, being sentenced to six years in prison on corruption charges.The awakening of the right-wing extremists
Javier Milei, the leader of La Libertad Avanza, represents an extreme right-wing liberal perspective. He advocates for measures such as reducing inflation by incorporating different currencies, leading to a dollarization scenario. Milei emphasizes fair remuneration for employment to combat corruption and to eradicate unemployment completely or at least creating an unemployment fund. Notably, he has been at the forefront of protests against Alberto Fernández, a prominent leader from Frente de Todos. In addition, he has publicly denied global warning and promoted the Anarcho-capitalist political theory.When it comes to the polls, Milei's strong support among the youth translates into a sizeable advantage in terms of popularity. With his liberal ideology resonating with a significant portion of the population, he is expected to garner a significant number of votes in the presidential election. As of June 2023, La Libertad Avanza had the support of 31 percent of Argentinians under 30 years old. After the PASO, primary elections, results, Milei came surprisingly victorious over opposition, nonetheless, the first round presented a clear advantage from Massa. Nonetheless of the result, both candidates will need the support of "Juntos por el Cambio" after the elections.
Main problems of the population
Inflation has emerged as the principal concern for Argentina's population, reaching unprecedented levels in 2023. The chronic nature of this inflationary trend since 1946, and reaching completely new levels since 2020, has led to significant economic instability. The inflation rate has soared to its highest point, causing uncertainty among companies and employers who hesitate to expand their workforce due to the expectation of further price hikes. Consequently, a substantial portion of the employed population finds itself seeking informal employment opportunities. Disturbingly, nearly half of the population falls into this category.Compounding the economic challenges, Argentina faces a pervasive perception of corruption. The corruption index, ranking 38 on a scale from zero to 100 (with zero representing the worst score), places the country among the 15 most corrupt nations in Latin America. Instances of corruption involve public officials engaging in illicit activities such as kickbacks on public procurement and embezzlement of public funds. The prevailing economic situation has had tangible consequences on the country's crime landscape. Robberies and thefts targeting personal property have become some of the most prevalent crimes in various regions. The combination of economic strain, rising poverty rates, and a perception of corruption fosters an environment conducive to criminal activities.
