BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) 鈥 Votes were being cast across Buenos Aires on Sunday in local elections that will test Argentina's President Javier Milei's political strength as he seeks to steer mainstream conservatives toward his radical libertarian platform.
The election results could boost Milei鈥檚 La Libertad Avanza party, or LLA, in crucial national midterms later this year. Some 2.5 million people are eligible to vote in Sunday鈥檚 election, in which half of the 60 legislative seats are up for grabs.
against Argentina's political class, Milei founded LLA just four years ago, drawing a motley crew of political novices into his anti-establishment agenda.
with just a tiny minority in Congress over his past 1 1/2-year in office 鈥 his party holds just 15% of seats in the lower house and 10% in the Senate 鈥 with , the and the face of Argentina's conservative political establishment.
That uneasy alliance has faltered in recent months. The two have clashed over on the Supreme Court, among other things.
In Macri鈥檚 stronghold of Buenos Aires, where his PRO (Republican Proposal) party has governed uninterrupted since 2007, Milei appears set on crushing his erstwhile partner altogether, analysts say.
鈥淭he government needs to claim dominance and the leadership over the whole spectrum of the center-right,鈥 said Juan Cruz D铆az, managing director of Buenos Aires-based political consultancy Cefeidas Group.
At his closing campaign rally last week, Milei attacked Macri's party in an expletive-sprinkled rant. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to waste time describing all the inconsistencies of the failed (PRO) party because they鈥檙e fighting for fourth place,鈥 he told supporters.
Wiping out PRO in Buenos Aires would signal a major shift in Argentine politics 鈥 one already playing out in the , and around the world as increasingly right-wing factions push their way into the mainstream and drown out more moderate voices.
It would also cement Milei's party as the main alternative to the country's , which has governed for much of the past two decades.
鈥淚f Milei wins in the capital, it will have a very strong symbolic impact,鈥 said Orlando D鈥橝damo, director of the Center for Public Opinion at Buenos Aires鈥 University of Belgrano. 鈥淚f PRO wins, it would maintain Macri鈥檚 power as a valuable partner, boost his brand and put him on equal footing with La Libertad Avanza.鈥
Milei has chosen a prominent figure 鈥 his spokesperson Manuel Adorni 鈥 to head his list of candidates. , Karina Milei, on the job as a campaign strategist. Huge banners declaring 鈥淎dorni is Milei鈥 blanket the city.
鈥淚t has turned into a crucial battle for the political leadership,鈥 said Ignacio Labaqui, a senior analyst at research group Medley Global Advisors.
Macri, for his part, has campaigned hard for his top candidate, Silvia Lospennato. In recent appearances, he has criticized Milei for what he sees as a bellicose approach and disregard for traditional Argentine institutions.
鈥淧utting the economy in order is not enough. We must strengthen institutions, be predictable and regain respect for one another,鈥 Macri told supporters.
Just two years ago, Macri was key to Milei's landslide electoral victory. His center-right supplied Milei's , brought him a conservative base and helped him secure the support of critical political brokers to through .
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Associated Press writer Debora Rey in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report.
