2023 Argentine general election

2023 Argentine general election

Presidential election

← 2019 22 October 2023 19 November 2023 (potential second round) 2027 →

Opinion polls

Nominee Sergio Massa Patricia Bullrich Javier Milei Party FR PRO PL Alliance UP JxC LLA Running mate Agustín Rossi Luis Petri Victoria Villarruel

Election results by province and department

Incumbent President Alberto Fernández UP-PJ

Legislative election

← 2021 22 October 2023 2025 →

130 of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 24 of 72 seats in the Senate

Number of deputies at stake by province (left) and provinces that will elect senators (right).

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General elections are scheduled to be held in Argentina on 22 October 2023, to elect the president, vice president, members of the national congress and the governors of most provinces.^[1]

Incumbent president Alberto Fernández and incumbent vice president and former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, despite both being eligible for a second, consecutive term, will not seek reelection.^[2][3]

Background

In the 2019 general election, the Peronist, left-wing Frente de Todos ticket of Alberto Fernández, former Chief Cabinet, and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, National Senator and former president, defeated the center-right Juntos por el Cambio ticket of incumbent president Mauricio Macri and conservative Peronist National Senator Miguel Ángel Pichetto, exceeding the threshold to win the presidency in a single round. Macri became the first incumbent president in Argentine history to be defeated for reelection.^[4]

The first two years of the Fernández presidency was limited by the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, during which he imposed strict lockdown measures in an attempt to suppress the spread of the disease,^[5] and a debt crisis inherited from his predecessor.^[6] While the economy did recover in 2021–22,^[7] inflation rose to 100% (the highest since 1991).^[8] His approval ratings have been constantly low throughout his presidency, only in few certain occasions over 50% approval rate, with disapproval ratings from 60% to 80%.^[9][10] According to British newspaper The Economist, Fernández is considered "a president without a plan", and his presidency to be a "weak administration",^[11][12] alluding to his lack of independent decision-making. Instead, his decisions are under heavy influence of Vice President and former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, also leader of the coalition, whom Fernández himself described as a "permanent source of consultation."^[13] The 2021 midterm elections resulted in heavy losses for the Frente de Todos, which lost its majority in both houses of Congress. Observers attributed the loss to the widespread anger over high inflation and rising poverty.^{[14][15][16][17]}

In April 2023, Fernández announced that he had decided to not seek reelection to the presidency in the 2023 general election.^[2] Others who refused to run were incumbent vice president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (who served as president between 2007 and 2015),^[3] and former president Mauricio Macri, who succeeded Fernández de Kirchner and preceded Fernández.^[18] Controversial constitutional amendments in Jujuy -a province governed by Gerardo Morales, who ran as vice president alongside Horacio Rodriguez Larreta- led to protests beginning in June where demonstrators stormed the Jujuy legislature.^[19][20]

Electoral system

President

The election of the president will be conducted under the ballotage system, a modified version of the two-round system. A candidate can win the presidency in a single round by either winning over 45% of the vote, or if they win 40% of the vote while finishing more than 10 percentage points ahead of the second-place candidate. If no candidate meets either threshold, a runoff takes place between the top two candidates.^[21] Voting is compulsory for citizens between 18 and 70 years old.^[22] Suffrage is also extended to 16- and 17-year-olds, though without compulsory voting.^[23]

Congress

Chamber of Deputies

The 257 members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected by proportional representation in 24 multi-member constituencies based on the provinces (plus the City of Buenos Aires). Seats are allocated using the d'Hondt method with a 3% electoral threshold.^[24] In this election, 130 of the 257 seats are up for renewal for a four-year term.^[25]

Senate

The 72 members of the Senate are elected in the same 24 constituencies, with three seats in each. The party receiving the most votes in each constituency wins two seats, with the third seat awarded to the second-placed party. The 2023 elections will see one-third of Senators renewed, with eight provinces electing three Senators for a 6-year term; Buenos Aires, Formosa, Jujuy, La Rioja, Misiones, San Juan, San Luis, and Santa Cruz.^[26]

Presidential candidates

The following candidates participated in the Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries (PASO), which were held on 13 August 2023. The primaries determined the candidates of each coalition. Coalitions who received less than 1.5% of the votes will not be able to participate in the general election on 22 October.^[27]

Advanced to the general election

Name Birth date and place			Prior experience	Party	Vice President	Coalition		Ref
Sergio Massa b. 1972 (age 51) San Martín, Buenos Aires Province			Minister of Economy (2022–present) See more President of the Chamber of Deputies (2019–2022) National Deputy from Buenos Aires Province (2013–2017; 2019–2022) Mayor of Tigre (2007–2008; 2009–2013) Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers (2008–2009) Executive Director of ANSES (2002–2007) Provincial Deputy of Buenos Aires (1999–2002) 2015 presidential candidate under the United for a New Alternative coalition	Renewal Front	Cabinet Chief Agustín Rossi (PJ)		Union for the Homeland Member parties Justicialist Party Renewal Front Evita Movement Broad Front Victory Party Kolina New Encounter FORJA Concertation Party Patria Grande Front Solidary Party Federal Party Intransigent Party Communist Party Popular Unity Party of Culture, Education and Labour Revolutionary Communist Party Party of Labour and Equity	[28]
Patricia Bullrich b. 1956 (age 67) Buenos Aires			Minister of Security (2015–2019) See more National Deputy from the City of Buenos Aires (1993–1997; 2007–2015) Minister of Social Security (October–November 2001) Minister of Labour, Employment and Human Resources (2000–2001)	Republican Proposal	Former National Deputy Luis Petri (UCR)		Together for Change Member parties Republican Proposal Radical Civic Union Civic Coalition ARI Generation for a National Encounter UNIR Constitutional Nationalist Party Democratic Progressive Party Federal Republican Encounter	[29]
Javier Milei b. 1970 (age 52) Buenos Aires			National Deputy from the City of Buenos Aires (2021–present)	Libertarian Party	National Deputy Victoria Villarruel (PD)		Liberty Advances Member parties Libertarian Party National Democratic Party Democratic Party Integration and Development Movement (Factions) Republican Force Federal Renewal Party Renewal Crusade Unite for Freedom and Dignity Neighborhood Confederation of Entre Ríos Pensioners and Youth Movement	[30][31]
Juan Schiaretti b. 1949 (age 74) Córdoba, Córdoba Province			Governor of Córdoba Province (2007–2011; 2015–present) See more Vice Governor of Córdoba Province (2003–2007) Federal Interventor of Santiago del Estero Province (1993–1995)	Justicialist Party	National Deputy Florencio Randazzo (HACER)		We Do for Our Country Member parties Socialist Party Christian Democratic Party Autonomist Party	[32]
Myriam Bregman b. 1972 (age 51) Timote, Buenos Aires Province			National Deputy from Buenos Aires Province (2015–2016) and Buenos Aires City (2021–present) See more Legislator of Buenos Aires City (2017–2021) 2015 vice presidential candidate under the Workers' Left Front coalition	Socialist Workers' Party	National Deputy Nicolás del Caño (PTS)		Workers' Left Front – Unity Member parties Workers' Party Socialist Workers' Party Socialist Left Socialist Workers' Movement	[33]

Defeated in a winning coalition in the primary elections

Name Birth date and place			Prior experience	Party	Vice President	Coalition		Ref
Juan Grabois b. 1983 (age 40) San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province			Leader of the Patria Grande Front	Patria Grande Front	Doctor Paula Abal Medina (FPG)		Union for the Homeland Member parties Justicialist Party Renewal Front Evita Movement Broad Front Victory Party Kolina New Encounter FORJA Concertation Party Patria Grande Front Solidary Party Federal Party Intransigent Party Communist Party Popular Unity Party of Culture, Education and Labour Revolutionary Communist Party Party of Labour and Equity	[34]
Horacio Rodríguez Larreta b. 1965 (age 57) Buenos Aires			Mayor of Buenos Aires (2015–present) See more Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers of Buenos Aires (2007–2015)	Republican Proposal	Governor of Jujuy Gerardo Morales (UCR)		Together for Change Member parties Republican Proposal Radical Civic Union Civic Coalition ARI Generation for a National Encounter UNIR Constitutional Nationalist Party Democratic Progressive Party Federal Republican Encounter	[35]
Gabriel Solano b. 1974 (age 49) Buenos Aires			Legislator of Buenos Aires City (2017–2020; 2021–present) See more president of the Workers' Party (2019–present)	Workers' Party	Former Legislator of Buenos Aires City Vilma Ripoll (MST)		Workers' Left Front – Unity Member parties Workers' Party Socialist Workers' Party Socialist Left Socialist Workers' Movement	[36]

Defeated in the primary elections

Name Birth date and place			Prior experience	Party	Vice President	Coalition		Ref
Guillermo Moreno b. 1955 (age 67) Buenos Aires			Secretary of Domestic Trade (2006–2013) See more Under-Secretary of Production for the City of Buenos Aires (1990–1993)	Principles and Values Party	Secretary General of APOPS Leonardo Fabre (PyV)		Principles and Values Member parties People's Party Principles and Values	[37]
Paula Arias			–	Labour Party	Walter Vera (PL)			[38]
Carina Bartolini			–	Justicialist Party	Mabel Gómez (PJ)			[38]
Eliodoro Martínez			Leader of the CABA wing of the Action for the Republic	Action for the Republic	Vicente Souto (APLR)			[38]
Jorge Oliver			Journalist and political analist	Three Flags group	Ezequiel San Martín (Three Flags)			[38]
Manuela Castañeira b. 1984 (age 38) Paraná, Entre Ríos Province			Sociologist	New MAS	Teacher Lucas Ruiz (New MAS)		New MAS	[39]
Jesús Escobar b. 1971 (age 52) El Maitén, Chubut Province			Provincial Legislator of Neuquén (2003–2007; 2011–2019)	Freemen of the South	Former Santiago del Estero City councilwoman Marianella Lezama Hid (Freemen of the South)		Freemen of the South Movement	[40]
Marcelo Ramal b. 1954 (age 68) Buenos Aires			Legislator of Buenos Aires City (2013–2015; 2015–2017)	Workers' Policy	Teacher Patricia Urones (PO)		Workers' Policy	[41]
Nazareno Etchepare			Lawyer	Demos	Bachelor Fernando Lorenzo (DEMOS)		Liber.AR Member parties Unite for Liberty and Dignity Liber.AR	[42]
Ramiro Vasena			Political leader	Reconquest Group	Political leader Víctor Aníbal Lagonegro (Reconquest)			[43]
Raúl Castells b. 1953 (age 69) Rosario, Santa Fe Province			Leader of the MIJD	MIJD	Social activist Adriana Reinoso (MIJD)		MIJD	[27]
Santiago Cúneo [es] b. 1970 (age 53) Buenos Aires			Journalist and businessman		Falklands War veteran Gustavo Barranco (MIJD)			[27]
Mempo Giardinelli b. 1947 (age 76) Resistencia, Chaco Province			Writer, journalist and professor	Peace, Democracy and Sovereignty	Teacher Bárbara Solemou (PDyS)		Youth Project Member parties Humanist Party Youth Project Party National Liberation Movement Popular Consensus United for the South The Argentine Manifesto	[27]
Reina Ibáñez			Sex worker	TODEX	Gonzalo Ibarra (TODEX)			[44]
Martín Ayerbe			President of the Argentine Naval Forum Hipólito Bouchard	United Homeland	Hugo Rodríguez (United Homeland)			[45]
César Biondini			Lawyer	Patriot Front	Teacher Mariel Avendaño (FP)		Patriot Front	[27]
Raúl Albarracín			Provincial Legislator of Córdoba (2007-2011)	Neighbourhood Action Movement	Lawyer Sergio Pastore (MAV)		Neighbourhood Action Movement	[46]
Andrés Passamonti			Leader of the UCEDE (Buenos Aires)	Union of the Democratic Centre	Public accountant Pamela Fernández (UCEDE)		Union of the Democratic Centre	[47]

Opinion polls

Presidential election

Results

Primary elections

President

Chamber of Deputies

References