President Mauricio Macri stunned Argentines and markets on Tuesday by naming the head of the congressional opposition as his vice-presidential candidate in October's general election. Miguel Angel Pichetto, a 68-year-old lawyer and Senator from the province of Rio Negro has been a loyal and pragmatic member of the Peronist movement since he started in politics in the early eighties.
Miguel Angel Pichetto was born in Buenos Aires and moved to the Patagonian province of Río Negro early in his career. He was first elected in 1983 as a Councilor of Sierra Grande, then mayor (85/87) and later a provincial lawmaker.
Argentina's incumbent President Mauricio Macri has announced Tuesday he chose Senate Majority (and opposition) Leader Miguel Ángel Pichetto as his running mate for this year's elections.