Argentina heads to polls to elect president, half of deputies, one-third of Senate amid deep economic crisis

​​​​​​​By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Argentina heads to the polls Sunday to elect a new president amid a deep economic crisis.

Three candidates have a possibility of going to a runoff.

Javier Milei, an outsider with the La Libertad Avanza party, unexpectedly took the lead in the August primaries; ruling Peronist Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa and conservative former Security Minister Patricia Bullrich.

The elections promise to be atypical. Argentine politics has revolved for decades around two axes: Peronism and anti-Peronism. But this time, a candidate who is neither Peronist nor anti-Peronist is in the pole position to win.

MIlei, a libertarian with anti-system rhetoric, who refers to the currency as “excrement” and shows a chainsaw as a symbol of his plan to cut state bureaucracy, has attracted the attention of young voters for unorthodox proposals in a country embroiled in a profound economic crisis triggered by unprecedented inflation of 138% and increasing poverty.

He has promised to dollarize the economy, abolish the central bank and sharply reduce state spending.

Massa, who represents the ruling Union por la Patria coalition, could come second despite his failure to rein in inflation during Alberto Fernadez’s presidency. He has the support of the Peronist bloc, which has ruled the country for years.

Bullrich, from the center-right Juntos por el Cambio coalition, has proposed a “stabilization plan” to reduce inflation and “create quality private employment” to end informality. But her proposals have failed to attract the attention of the electorate.

To win, a candidate must obtain more than 45% of the vote or more than 40% with a more than 10-point lead over the second-place candidate.

Experts said there will most likely be a second round on Nov. 19 to determine the next president.

Argentines will elect the future president, half of the deputies and one-third of the Senate in the election.