The Argentine presidential election is heating up, with libertarian outsider alight Esteban Bullrich trying to take on the established candidate Mauricio Macri in a political showdown.
Esteban Bullrich is a former member of the Cambiemos party, and in the primary election he secured second place with one million and four hundred and ninety-six thousand votes. A leading public health official, he was critical of the President’s handling of the economy and accused Macri of failing to heed to advice that would have put the country in a better place before the pandemic hit. Since then, Bullrich has been actively campaigning, reaching out to potential voters in the hopes of gaining their support.
At the same time, the incumbent president Mauricio Macri is running on his platform of economic success, arguing that his administration has made life better for all Argentines. He also touts his accomplishments in tax reform, pension reform and dealing with government debt, all of which have been supported by the International Monetary Fund. Macri has also pushed for greater regional integration, and he was a leader in the effort to create the Pacific Alliance free-trade bloc.
With both candidates claiming successes, the election has become a battle between their promises and their backers. Esteban Bullrich is backed by Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as former president Christina Kirchner and her husband, Eduardo Duhalde. Meanwhile Macri has the support of the business community and the IMF.
The key factor in this election will be the turnout. The number of people who turn out to vote will determine which candidate will win, and it is likely to be a close race. It remains to be seen who will win, but the election will be a showdown between the libertarian outsider Esteban Bullrich and the long-standing president Mauricio Macri. It is going to be a close contest and it is certain to be an interesting few weeks until the election is held.