City elections: Candidate Adorni, Marra to run, Lospennato emerges

The hourglass is running out as the deadline approaches for registering candidate lists for each political alliance competing in the Buenos Aires City elections on May 18.

This Sunday marks the final day for nominations, and last-minute negotiations are taking place as parties finalise their lists.

Adorni: the chosen one

The latest bombshell to shake up the electoral landscape was the confirmation of Manuel Adorni’s candidacy as the lead legislative candidate for La Libertad Avanza.

The presidential spokesperson’s candidacy had been in the pipeline for weeks, but Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei was reportedly reluctant to let go of one of the "officials who deliver results."

After intense back-and-forth discussions and a casting process that did not yield the desired results, President Javier Milei’s sister relented and returned to the original plan: putting Adorni in the race.

The high-profile spokesperson is one of the most prominent libertarian figures and is well-trained for public debates and ideological battles.

In the preceding hours, National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich had emerged as a possible candidate, reportedly with President Javier Milei’s backing.

On Thursday morning, the head of state gave an interview in which he admitted he would "love" to see the minister running in the City, believing she would "sweep the polls."

The President’s statement did not seem isolated, as shortly afterwards, Bullrich led a walkaround through the Recoleta neighbourhood with media coverage.

Adorni’s confirmation as candidate has ended Bullrich’s chances for this City election, although she may still run for the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies in the national midterms in October.

While Bullrich is comfortable with her government role and feels that a position in Congress would effectively downgrade her to a role that does not match her executive and action-oriented profile, a candidacy in October could serve as a springboard for a potential 2027 bid to govern the City as mayor.

Lospennato emerges for PRO

PRO is in the final stages of assembling its candidate list, with an official announcement expected over the weekend.

Sources close to Buenos Aires City Mayor Jorge Macri revealed to Noticias Argentinas that the announcement could take place at the party’s headquarters on Balcarce 412, or unveiled via social media.

The initial frontrunner for the top spot on the list was María Eugenia Vidal. The former Buenos Aires Province governor was PRO party leader Mauricio Macri’s favourite and he made every effort to convince her. But the current national deputy refused to take on the challenge, not wanting to risk another defeat after the heavy loss she suffered against current Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof in 2019.

PRO faces a much tougher electoral landscape than in previous years due to the rise of La Libertad Avanza and a competitive external field that includes former mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, a co-founder of PRO, and his new "Volvamos Buenos Aires" alliance.

Additionally, Martín Lousteau’s Unión Cívica Radical (UCR) and Elisa Carrió’s Coalición Cívica have also decided to run separately, vying for the same voter base.

Amid these challenges, PRO is struggling to find an enthusiastic candidate willing to take on what is arguably the party’s most difficult electoral battle in years. The very survival of the "yellow party" is at stake.

Buenos Aires City Health Minister Fernán Quirós is Jorge Macri’s preferred candidate, but the doctor is also reluctant to take on the challenge.

In this context, national deputy Silvia Lospennato’s name has gained significant traction. Mauricio Macri sees her as the ideal candidate to refresh PRO’s image in the City.

A proactive and diligent legislator from Buenos Aires Province, Lospennato has the opportunity in 2025 to switch districts and establish herself as a key PRO figure in the capital.

If she succeeds in preventing her party’s collapse, she could position herself strongly for a more ambitious campaign in 2027.

Strong sources suggest Lospennato will head the list, with ex-culture minister Hernán Lombardi in second place and Jorge Macri’s spokesperson, Laura Alonso, the former head of the Anti-Corruption Office, in third.

Santoro and Abal Medina not speaking

Noticias Argentinas has learned that the leadership of the Buenos Aires City branch of the Partido Justicialista (PJ), which is backing the "Es Ahora Buenos Aires" list led by Leandro Santoro, has not spoken with Juan Manuel Abal Medina — who registered the "Justa, Libre y Soberana" list — or anyone in his circle for two weeks.

"We had a meeting 15 days ago that led nowhere. There’s no concrete offer to be part of the structure — no positions, no political discussion, no decision-making roles. Nothing at all. They just tell us, ‘Step down, and we’ll see.’ And under those conditions, we’re obviously running alone," sources close to Abal Medina, who has the backing of the Evita Movement and a significant sector of the CGT umbrella union grouping, told Noticias Argentinas.

The extreme fragmentation of right-wing, centre-right, and centrist candidates presents Peronism with a historic opportunity to come out on top after 20 years of PRO dominance in the capital. But the movement may be about to blow it.

Challenges remain. Abal Medina’s list appeals to a similar electorate, and the lack of a unity agreement works against the goal of securing the most votes in Buenos Aires City.

A similar situation arises with the "Principios y Valores" alliance led by former Commerce Secretary Guillermo Moreno. Unlike Abal Medina, who is open to dialogue, Moreno has made it clear he will never vote for a former "radical" — a reference to Santoro — and is therefore running Korean-Argentine businessman Alejandro Kim as his lead legislative candidate.

In previous elections, Moreno’s faction failed to pass the threshold for the PASO primaries, but in the current libertarian climate, "Principios y Valores" has gained ground in Greater Buenos Aires, making it difficult to predict how many votes they will win on May 18.

Meanwhile, the Unión por la Patria coalition has also suffered a left-wing split, resulting in the "Confluencia por la Igualdad y la Soberanía" alliance, which includes Unidad Popular (led by Claudio Lozano), the Partido Comunista, Patria de Iguales, Partido Izquierda Popular and the Movimiento La Ciudad Somos Quienes la Habitamos.

Despite this, City PJ leaders believe this moderate leftist bloc does not pose a significant electoral threat.

The centre

With his new movement, Movimiento al Desarrollo (MAD), Rodríguez Larreta will be the leading candidate of the centrist "Volvamos Buenos Aires" alliance, which also includes Graciela Ocaña’s Confianza Pública.

The former Buenos Aires City Mayor, who suffered a shocking defeat in 2023 when he secured just 11 percent in his PRO PASO primary battle against Patricia Bullrich, is attempting to rebuild his political career from the ground up.

Rodríguez Larreta will be joined on the list by national senator Guadalupe Tagliaferri, whose congressional term is ending, and City lawmaker Emmanuel Ferrario, who is seeking re-election.

Another faction emerging from the Juntos por el Cambio split is "Evolución," the alliance formed by Martín Lousteau’s UCR, Roy Cortina’s Socialist Party, and Margarita Stolbizer’s Generación para un Encuentro Nacional (GEN).

Initially, there was speculation that Lousteau himself would lead the list, but he has opted to focus on the October national elections.

Instead, Noticias Argentinas has confirmed that former Federación Universitaria de Buenos Aires (FUBA) president Lucille Levy, a 29-year-old accountant, will head the list.

She will be joined by UCR activist Facundo Cedeira, with the third spot reserved for a coalition ally.

"They will all be young leaders. Faced with the old and familiar, we are betting on the new,” a source from the party said.

Meanwhile, the Coalición Cívica will run independently with a list led by national deputy Paula Oliveto Lago, with Fernando Sánchez as campaign manager.

Right and left alternatives

Ramiro Marra, whose legislative term is ending, will run under the UCeDé banner, posing a challenge to La Libertad Avanza and potentially drawing votes away from PRO too.

Another right-wing contender is "Unión Porteña Libertaria," with Yamil Santoro as its lead candidate – the lawyer has cynically chosen a logo that combines elements from other political parties in order to attract more votes.

On the left, the Frente de Izquierda y de los Trabajadores Unidad (FIT-U) – comprising the Partido de los Trabajadores Socialistas, Partido Obrero, Izquierda Socialista and Movimiento Socialista de los Trabajadores – will field Vanina Biasi (PO) and Luca Bonfante (PTS).

Meanwhile, a more moderate left-wing coalition is also forming as a breakaway faction.