Argentines go to polls with frontrunner seeking first-round election victory

Argentines vote for a new president on Sunday with outgoing leader Cristina Fernandez’s candidate the favourite to win despite deep divisions over her brand of leftist populism, which has driven up inflation and shackled the economy. Polls show Daniel Scioli of the leftist Front for Victory ruling party with a clear lead over his rivals, although he cannot be sure of an outright win and may be forced into a run-off vote next month. Fernandez will step down with approval ratings near 50%, yet her eight years in power have polarised the nation.

It’s clear this country needs a change. A change from high inflation and a change from Fernandez’s confrontational style.

Voter Luis Sereno, 54

The fiery nationalist is adored by the poor and working class for generous welfare handouts and protectionist policies but reviled by others for suffocating the economy. Scioli, a moderate within the broad Peronist movement that dominates Argentine politics, plans to unravel some of Fernandez’s policies but pledges only gradual change and says he will stick with her popular welfare programs. His rivals, centre-right Mauricio Macri and centrist Sergio Massa both promise to move faster to open up Latin America’s No.3 economy. To win outright on Sunday, Scioli needs 45% of votes, or 40% with a 10 percentage point lead over his closest challenger.

Politics Argentina election