Sunday, October 27, 2013

Opposition leader Sergio Massa wins Buenos Aires midterm

Argentines vote today to renew half of the Lower House.

With more than 75 percent of the electorate having cast their vote, polls closed in Sunday’s legislative elections, in which Argentines voted to choose half of the Lower House of Congress and a third of the Senate.

According to exit polls, Renewal Front candidate and opposition leader Sergio Massa was leading in the key province of Buenos Aires over rival Martín Insaurralde, President Fernandez's star candidate.

In the City of Buenos Aires, Gabriela Micchetti, from the ruling PRO party, was on course to win two seats in the Senate.

Briefing reporters, Interior and Transport Minister Florencio Randazzo said elections took place “with normality” across Argentina. Only one incident was registered in the Buenos Aires locality of Merlo where the Victory Front reported that Renewal Front polling station authorities “took out and destroyed” ballot papers. They were later detained by the police.

Attention is focused, as usual, on Buenos Aires province, which accounts for nearly 38 percent of the country’s voting roll.

These elections are marked by the absence of the Fernández de Kirchner who underwent a brain surgery earlier in October. As she was recommended strict rest by doctors, Vice President Amado Boudou replaced her during the electoral campaign.