MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“A majority (70%) of Buenos Aires City voters do not like to be blackmailed”

Macri privileged to be Mayor of one of the most important cities of the world

Buenos Aires City Mayor, conservative Mauricio Macri said on Monday he was “really surprised” with the large margin victory obtained in the first round of his bid for re-election and considered the result “a good example of the voters’ independency, and how citizens can surprise with their decisions”.

During a press conference with his running mate, María Eugenia Vidal, and in company of his cabinet to give impressions on Sunday’s mayoral elections, Macri said that now he feels the relation with the neighbours of Buenos Aires City ”got even closer as the great elections we did are the result of all we’ve done in the City so far. The citizens demonstrated that they are pleased with our administration”.

Asked if the elections can be considered as a rejection to the national government model, Macri said “Well, it seems that there is a share of the voters that do not like to be blackmailed”.

On Sunday’s electoral race Macri garnered 47% of the vote and his main competitor Daniel Filmus, sponsored by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, 27%. Since he was short of the 50% plus one vote, a run off is scheduled for July 31.

“You can’t tell the people what to do and how to think. You can't make people believe that there is one way only to do things and to see reality” said Macri in a clear attack on the federal government, and added: “to believe strongly in something, does not mean that one has to run over the rest of the people and their beliefs. Yesterday’s elections showed that more than 70% of the registered voters within the City of Buenos Aires are disappointed with the national government”.

Furthermore, Macri said “not to understand” those who refer to a possible City re-election as a consolation prize, after he dropped out from next October’s presidential elections.

“Buenos Aires is one of the most important cities in the world. It is a privilege for me to be the Mayor of this wonderful city. I do not understand those who call the mayoral post a consolation prize.”

Asked about his presidential chances for 2015, the incumbent City Mayor remarked “I’m here to work for the City and I have no rush to know what’s going to happen in the 2015 presidential elections.”

Regarding the July 31 runoff, Macri aimed his darts to Daniel Filmus as he expressed that “they [Kirchnerism] must now double their efforts”, and also thanked the citizens of the City “for their wonderful vote of confidence”. After all “heading a runoff with a 20-point lead gives me great peace and calm”.

Meanwhile Senator Daniel Filmus said that “we [Kirchnerism] are confident that if we approach voters in the right way, we can change this story”, adding the results obtained on Sunday was “the best election I have never done. Now, we must face the runoff with a spirit of joy and the true willingness of fighting hand-to-hand on July 31st.”

Furthermore, the Senator indicated that (President Cristina Fernandez) Victory Front “has grown as a political force within the BA City”, and added, “We clearly improved the 2007 mayoral election in which we obtained 11% of the vote. It is obvious that we have gained the confidence of many citizens while other parties, like the Civic Coalition, went backwards”.