Argentinians, exhausted by inflation and disillusioned with politicians, are voting in primary elections on Sunday to nominate candidates for October’s presidential election, when the successor to current center-left head of state Alberto Fernandez will be chosen, AFP, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

More than 35 million voters will be called from 08:00 (11:00 GMT) to choose both the parties that will run on October 22 in the presidential election, which requires 1.5% of the national vote, and their candidates.

22 “president-vice-president” tandems are participating in this phase of the race for leadership in Argentina, the third largest economy in Latin America, with impressive agricultural and raw material potential, but which is considered the “chronic patient” of the continent. , with double-digit inflation for 12 years (115% per year), huge debts to the IMF and a poverty rate of 40%. After the polls close at 6:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. GMT), only six will remain in the October 22 election, when the next president will be chosen. Incumbent Alberto Fernandez, extremely unpopular, is not running.

Economy Minister Sergio Massa (51 years old), who managed to mobilize the Peronist camp, is confidently winning in the government camp (center-left), but the economy “in resuscitation” plays against him. The camp of the right-wing opposition – the conservative coalition “Together for Change” – announced a tight duel between Horacio Larreta, 57, the mayor of Buenos Aires since 2015, who presents himself as a moderate and a supporter of consultations, and former security minister Patricia Bullrich, 67, who promises “shock” methods both in terms of economy and safety.

A high level of absenteeism is expected, although voting is mandatory

Sunday’s PASO poll – open, simultaneous and mandatory primary elections – is marked by the absence of two dominant figures in Argentine political life in recent years: Peronist Cristina Kirchner (70), former head of state from 2007 to 2015, and Mauricio Macri (64). . ), a liberal president who succeeded him in 2015 before being defeated by Alberto Fernández in 2019.

Despite the fact that voting is mandatory, analysts predict a turnout of more than 25%.

On the other hand, voter disenchantment could benefit the ultra-liberal libertarian economist Javier Miele, who opposed the political “caste” and created a sensation in the 2021 parliamentary elections, when his party became the third force. in Buenos Aires, an impact that is difficult to replicate at the national level.

Simultaneously with the presidential candidates, Argentines on Sunday vote for the candidates for the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, which will also be partially updated on the vote on October 22.