Confident Alberto Fernández vows to end polarisation

Presidential hopeful Alberto Fernández arrived to the Frente de Todos bunker this evening in a confident mood, declaring that he would put an end to polarisation in Argentina.

Amid unconfirmed reports that the opposition Peronist grouping had performed stronger that President Mauricio Macri's Juntos por el Cambio coalition in Sunday's PASO primaries, Fernández said that "with me, la grieta is over, forever."

The former Cabinet chief, seconded on the ticket by candidate for vice-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, arrived at his party's bunker in the City neighbourhood of Chacarita in a car, accompanied by his girlfriend, Fabiola Yañez. His vehicle was surrounded by supporters on the way in, with many in a celebratory mood.

Chanting and cheering was witnessed inside the bunker too, as rumours of a strong performance by Fernández swept across social networks.

Other key Frente de Todos figures, such as Buenos Aires Province gubernational hopeful Axel Kicillof and candidate for national deputy Sergio Massa, arrived earlier in the evening. 

Fernaández de Kirchner, however, was not present. The former president, blaming a lack of flight options, stayed in her hometown of Río Gallegos, where she cast her vote earlier in the day.

Before arriving at the bunker, Fernández told reporters that according to his party's estimates, Frente de Todos would comfortably finish first.

"We are comfortably going to come first," he said as he left his home in Puerto Madero.

Although saying he would comment publicly only after some results were made public, the Peronist leader said "two-thirds of Argentines told the Government 'No.'"

"I talked to Cristina. We are all happy. We are taking it easy, calm. We took a step and now we are going to have to continue working," he added. "We know that people responded to our message."

- TIMES/PERFIL