Election between Massa or Milei ends up breaking Argentina’s largest opposition alliance

Support in the second round Sergio MassaMinister of Economy with inflation of 138%, or Javier Milei, apostle of dollarization? Difficult decision for Together for Changethe largest opposition alliance Argentina and loser in Presidential electionswhich ended up going bankrupt on this front.

The express and unilateral support for the leader of the Advances of Freedom on the part of Patricia BullrichThe country, third in Sunday’s vote, with 23.83% of the votes, behind the Peronist candidate (36.28%) and Milei (29.98%), triggered a real storm this Wednesday within a coalition that He already had some wounds.

LOOK HERE: Flirting with Bullrich and the left: Milei’s turn to seek the presidency of Argentina

Founded in 2015, the alliance Let’s change -now Together for Change– today gathers the party Republican Proposal (Pro), the Radical Civic Union (UCR) – which on October 30th celebrates the 40th anniversary of the inauguration of the Raul Alfonsín as first president (1983-1989) upon the return of Argentina for democracy – and for Civic Coalition (CC), in addition to other minority formations.

Patricia Bullrich, candidate for Juntos pela Change. (LUIS ROBAYO/AFP). (LUIS ROBAYO/)

“Patricia Bullrich and Mauricio Macri They decided to leave Together for Change“, said the radical senator Martin Lousteau at a press conference in which the president of its National Committee, Geraldo Moralesgovernor of the northern province of Jujuy, directly accused the former president of being the “great responsible”of the coalition’s electoral defeat for having“campaign for Milei”.

With nocturnal and betrayal?

Bullrich, who has just regained the presidency of Pro after the leave requested by the campaign, detailed in a press conference held in good air together with his running mate, the radical Luis Petriwho met with the ultra-candidate last night.

At that meeting they addressed their positions, confirmed that they have many overlapping values ​​and some “differences”. Furthermore, they spoke about the harsh personal differences exchanged during the campaign.

“We forgive each other“, stated the former Minister of Security, accused by Milei of being a “bomb launcher stack”in his youth and who, after Sunday’s results, even said that, if he wanted, he could be a member of his eventual cabinet.

MORE INFORMATION: Elections in Argentina: “Massa’s victory is a big surprise, there was a fear factor regarding Milei”

“What Patrícia did is highly irresponsible. She is not the one who speaks on behalf of the more than 6 million voters that Together for Change had. (…) It is intolerable and makes me ashamed“Morales added at the press conference in which he announced that the UCR”will not support any candidate”.

Despite speculation that radicals could join the “unity government” proposed by the Peronist candidate, Sergio MassaLousteau stated that his place is “in opposition”.

Macri, the great puppeteer

Both Morales and Lousteau have fierce clashes with former president Mauricio Macri (2015-2019), co-founder of Pro together with the current mayor of good air, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta.

Precisely the fight for the leadership of the Government of the capital generated great discomfort in the UCR, since Lousteau contested the August primaries with Jorge Macri, who, as the former president’s cousin, received his expressed support in the campaign. After winning the elections, Jorge Macri also did not choose a radical to join him in the formula, which increased the bitterness.

The former Argentine president, who chose not to run for office last March elections 2023, was, however, very present throughout the entire electoral process: his choice of Bullrich and not Rodríguez Larreta in the internal elections for the Presidency; later, his flirtations with Milei, which generated differences within the coalition.

Macri “He is the generator of this entire movement and largely responsible for the defeat of Together for Change,” Morales noted.

SEE TOO: Results of the 2023 Argentine elections LIVE: Massa wins the first round and will contest the second round with Milei

agreed with your assessment Elisa ‘Lilita’ Carrióreference of Civic Coalitionwho noted in an interview with La Nación+ that “Macri has always played for Milei and the destruction of Together for Change, the historical truth is that”.

The one who was presidential candidate in 2007 (second, behind Cristina Kirchner) stated that “dark side” of Macri won and that “consequently he is the one who breaks and poor Patrícia will make a historic mistake”. Furthermore, he wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter) “Not for Milei and not for Massa”.

Like on the glacier Perito Moreno, the slight movements within the coalition generated small fissures. We will have to wait if the passage of time causes the ice that has now become to crack and crumble in the waters of Argentine politics.

Source: Elcomercio