Polls show Argentina’s presidential dispute remains fierce, with Milei in the lead

Ultra-liberal candidate Javier Milei is leading polls on voting intentions ahead of Argentina’s October 22 presidential election, but the race remains close between the three main candidates, according to three polls.

All three polls put Economy Minister Sergio Massa in second place and conservative candidate Patricia Bullrich in third.

Two of the polls showed the three candidates within a range of 10 percentage points, indicating that a second round is likely, as none of them are expected to get the votes needed to win the election in the first round.

To win in the first round, a candidate must get 45% of the vote, or more than 40% with a lead of more than 10 points over his nearest rival.

Milei, an economist who surprisingly won the August primaries with radical proposals, has between 34% and 35% of the votes, according to a poll by Opina Argentina. Massa has between 29% and 30%, while Bullrich has between 24% and 25%.

A survey by Synopsis Consultores sees Milei with 36.5%, followed by Massa with 29.7% and Bullrich with 23.8%.

“The result is open,” Opina Argentina analyst Facundo Nejamkis said.

In the midst of an economic crisis that has put two in five people below the poverty line and led to annual inflation reaching 138%, Milei’s promises todollarize the economy and close the central bank have won over some disillusioned voters.

“I voted for Milei in the primaries and I will vote for him again. It’s a change, someone has to eliminate the Kirchnerists,” said Gustavo Machado, a 40-year-old real estate agent from Buenos Aires, referring to the political force linked to the current vice president and former president, Cristina Kirchner.

For some voters, Milei’s policies are too radical.

Nancy Moran, a 58-year-old fruit seller, said she will vote for Massa because with Milei “the burden will disappear”.

Most pollsters have not yet released predictions for a possible runoff on November 19, although Milei is generally seen as having the best chance of winning.

Source: Terra

Rose

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