Argentina's Presidential Election Results in Runoff Slated For November
A day after Argentina’s presidential election, ballot counters have determined neither the left-leaning current party favorite, Daniel Scioli, nor the center-to-right candidate, Mauricio Macri, have earned enough votes to be the considered the clear winner.
A runoff election to determine the new leader of the Latin American nation will take place on Nov. 22.
As previously reported, Sunday’s exit polls led many to expect Scioli, a businessman and former governor of the Buenos Aires province, would be the clear victor.
The BBC reports the political contest between Scioli and Macri was too close to call. Scioli, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s personal choice for successor, was slightly ahead with 36.7 percent of the 96 percent of the total votes counted, while Macri had 34.5 percent.
In order to win the first round of elections, a presidential candidate needs 45 percent of the vote or a minimum of 40 percent and a 10-point lead over the closest rival candidate.
Macri was heartened by his numbers, telling his supporters, "What happened today will change politics in this country." The happy candidate is out to change Argentina, which is in an economically tough place with an inflation rate at 25 percent.
Right now, Marci is the sole impediment to the continuation of social policies and programs that have been dubbed “Kichnerism.” The 56-year-old candidate actually ran his campaign on the promise he would break from the 12 years of rule by Nestor and de Kirchner.
Daniel Scioli, on the other hand, wants to keep the socialist programs in Argentina going. In an interview with the Economist, he lauded the health of his nation, saying, “The country is already stable. No shock or comprehensive economic package is needed.”
In his remarks, Scioli echoed the confidence of the exiting Argentine leader who on Sunday said, "We are voting today in a completely normal country."
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of latinpost.com