President Javier Milei’s government, arguably at its lowest ebb since taking office, faces a key vote tomorrow in Buenos Aires Province that will set the tone for next month’s nationwide midterm elections.
The vote arrives at a perilous moment for the national government, which has been plagued by a bribery scandal at the ANDIS national disability agency that allegedly implicates the President’s sister and closest ally, Karina Milei.
Voters in Buenos Aires Province will choose provincial lawmakers, local councillors and school board members tomorrow, following Governor Axel Kicillof’s decision to split the provincial elections from the national ballot. At the provincial legislature level, 46 lower house seats and 23 Senate seats are up for renewal – half of the total of each chamber.
Voters will cast ballots at 1,934 polling stations across the region with a 6pm cut-off – though those waiting in line at that time will be allowed to cast a ballot.
Absenteeism is likely to be decisive. Nine of the 10 provinces that decoupled their elections from the national midterms have already voted this year – the average turnout is just 58 percent. Corrientes ranks the highest with 72.4 percent, while Santa Fe had the lowest at just 46 percent.
Voters are more likely to turnout if a gubernatorial or presidential candidate is on the ticket – as evidenced in last week’s elections in Corrientes.
Kicillof, a key Peronist leader, has made clear his feelings that abstention would be a victory for Milei. “Those who don’t go to vote should consider how Milei will interpret the result: if it favours him, he’ll continue with austerity, labour reform, and the chainsaw. If he loses, it will be a huge blow,” said the governor.
The national government's strategy – led by Milei – has been to accuse the opposition of orchestrating demonstrations against him with the alleged aim of killing him. During his campaign closure in the town of Moreno, the libertarian leader urged people to vote and declared that his movement would paint the entire province purple – his party's colour.
The vote marks the first major test of Milei's leadership since he took office in December 2023 on the promise of reviving Argentina's ailing economy by slashing public spending.
The 54-year-old has managed to bring down stubbornly high inflation and produce a budget surplus but his austerity measures have left many vulnerable Argentines, particularly the elderly, worse off than before.
– TIMES with agencies
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