MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Macri's coalition suffers heavy defeat in Argentina's second most populous district
Peronist governor Juan Schiaretti led comfortably after 94.2% of the vote had been counted, claiming 54% of ballots cast in his bid for re-election The ruling coalition of Argentine president Mauricio Macri suffered a heavy defeat Sunday in elections held in Cordoba province, the country's second most populous district. Peronist governor Juan Schiaretti led comfortably after 94.2% of the vote had been counted, claiming 54% of ballots cast in his bid for re-election.
Macri's Cambiemos coalition was divided between rival candidates in the provincial elections, with Mario Negri garnering 17.8% and Ramon Mestre 11% of the vote. Peronists also took the mayoralty of the city of Cordoba for the first time since 1974.
The contest in an electoral district of 2.8 million voters -- some 8.7% of the national electorate -- had generated particular interest as Macri's success in the same province led to his victory in the 2015 presidential ballot.
Argentina will vote in the first round of presidential elections in late October. Macri is under pressure over a misfiring economy six months ahead of the polls.
He has implemented a series of unpopular austerity policies to try to restore stability in the face of soaring inflation, huge debt obligations and a currency crisis. The measures came in exchange for a US$ 56 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.
Peronists greeted the strong showing in Cordoba with chants against Macri earlier Sunday.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsThe overwhelming defeat of Cambiemos in Córdoba is just another one in a string of eight local elections in which representatives of the current national government bit the dust.
May 13th, 2019 - 04:35 pm -1Of course, local elections are a reliable sample of the voters' mood. Eight defeats are not a good sign as the October presidential election comes closer.
Meanwhile, vote intentions for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who was vilified by the dominant media as a champion of corruption, keep going up with each passing day.
Of course, during three years of investigations, search warrants, excavation in CFK properties in Patagonia, maverick judge Claudio Bonadio was unable to find a shred of evidence of a single CKF infraction.
I know this is not good news for many MP commentators who were already salivating with the thought of seeing Cristina behind bars, but...told you so.
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