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Former President Mauricio Macri announced on Sunday his decision not to run for President. This announcement has a major electoral impact on the opposition coalition, which will define its candidate in the primaries to be held on August 20. Macri was seen as one of the strongest contenders in the presidential elections and it is speculated that he could play the role of kingmaker for the next years.
Macri is one of the most prominent politicians in Argentina. President of the Republic from 2015 to 2019, he remains the most recognizable figure of Juntos por el Cambio, the current opposition coalition to the government of Alberto Fernández and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
In a video of almost six minutes, the former president publicly announced that he will not run in the next presidential elections, thus opening the field to other candidates. “I want to ratify the decision that I will not be a candidate in the next election. And I say this convinced that we have to expand the political space of the change we initiated and that we have to inspire others with our actions”, he assured.
“I will continue to defend freedom, democracy and the values we share as I have always done and I will always do so alongside you, with the certainty that we Argentines have matured and we will no longer allow ourselves to be trampled by populism,” added the former president of Club Atlético Boca Juniors.
Macri did not miss the opportunity to indirectly criticize Peronism, as he pointed against the “paternalistic leadership” that has been installed in Argentina “for 80 years.” “I never believed in that model because it is based on warlordism, it is based on crony capitalism and on an authoritarian way of governing. I believe in individuals, in you, working together,” he added.
Macri opened the electoral bid in Argentina
Argentina’s political situation is as follows: it is very likely that the Government will lose the elections and that a candidate of Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) will become President on December 10. The question now is who will be wearing the presidential sash on that date.
The coalition will hold its primaries in August and for the moment there are four candidates. These are Patricia Bullrich (center-right), Horacio Rodríguez Larreta (center-left), María Eugenia Vidal (slightly more to the left than Larreta) and Miguel Ángel Pichetto (conservative). The four names have quite a lot of specific weight, so the internal elections promise to be striking.
Bullrich was Minister of Security during Macri’s administration and safety is one of her central campaign issues, while Larreta is the current Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires, the same position held by Macri before he became Mayor of the City of Rivadavia. Vidal is currently a national congresswoman and former governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, the most populated province in the country. Finally, Pichetto, who comes from Peronism, was national senator for Kirchner’s party and Macri’s running mate in 2019.
One step below is Javier Milei, the libertarian rockstar who promises to put an end to the “political caste.” Economist and advocate of the Austrian school, he managed to connect with the youth and appears as the third force at national level. For some, he has a chance to enter a second round. His ability to obtain free promotion by circumventing his salary as a national congressman demonstrates his great talent.
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On the government’s side, it is not clear who will be the candidate. Alberto Fernández’s poor public image makes us assume that he will be sure to be defeated. The bench of alternates is also not very well nourished and is formed by Daniel Scioli and Eduardo “Wado” de Pedro. The participation of Cristina Kirchner herself, who is the strongest name in Peronism, has not yet been ruled out.
The joker in this deck would be Sergio Massa, the current Minister of Economy. Renowned for his pragmatic approach, he could be the government’s most competitive option in the next elections. However, rumors suggest that he could wait for the 2027 train, given that the national environment is somewhat unfavorable to Peronism.
Joaquín Núñez es licenciado en comunicación periodística por la Universidad Católica Argentina. Se especializa en el escenario internacional y en la política nacional norteamericana. Confeso hincha de Racing Club de Avellaneda. Contacto: [email protected] // Joaquín Núñez has a degree in journalistic communication from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He specializes in the international scene and national American politics. Confessed fan of Racing Club of Avellaneda. Contact: [email protected]