MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine presidential campaign takes off with ads on local television

Macri's campaign highlighted public works and infrastructure projects started in his government. “It's going from abandonment to building a new reality every day”

Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his rivals in the October election launched their campaign ads on local TV on Sunday, targeting undecided voters who will be key to choosing whether his policies remain in place another four years.

Macri's campaign, which has been hit hard by the country's economic crisis, highlighted the public works and infrastructure projects started in his administration. “It's going from abandonment to building a new reality every day,” Macri said in the campaign ad.

Macri's chief rival, Alberto Fernandez, who is running on a ticket with former populist president Cristina Fernandez, describes himself as a “conciliatory” politician and “a normal guy”.

“I'm going to bring order to the chaos they're leaving us. We have the strength to do it,” Fernandez said in his ad.

Former economy minister Roberto Lavanga is also running, portraying himself as an alternative to Macri and Fernandez and the economic troubles that marked their terms.
“Only you can put an end to this,” a voiceover in Lavanga's ad says, showing him walking with his running mate.

If no candidate wins 45 per cent of votes or 40 per cent with a 10-point lead over the runner-up in the Oct 27 election, a run-off vote between the top two candidates will be held in November