Argentina’s opposition party is facing a significant split over Javier Milei’s presidential bid, which has the potential to reshape the country’s political landscape. The split became apparent when Patricia Bullrich, who led Juntos por el Cambio to defeat in the first-round vote, expressed her support for Milei in an attempt to weaken Economy Minister Sergio Massa. However, this move was made without the backing of other party members, leading to swift and severe criticism.
Morales, the Governor of Jujuy and head of the moderate faction of the party, disavowed Bullrich’s decision and expressed his embarrassment. He was joined by a group of 10 opposition governors and governors-elect who pledged neutrality in the upcoming runoff between Massa and Milei. This split within Juntos por el Cambio could result in a fractured congress, making it more difficult for the next president to implement crucial austerity measures and revive the country’s struggling economy.
Massa, in an attempt to attract moderate Juntos por el Cambio voters, has positioned himself in the center and is promising to lead a national unity government. On the other hand, Milei, a libertarian economist, advocates for dollarizing the economy and shutting down the central bank, garnering support from Bullrich’s faction.
The collapse of Juntos por el Cambio is seen as the implosion of the party, with Milei emerging as a disruptive figure challenging the traditional Argentine political landscape. Founded by Mauricio Macri in 2015, the coalition aimed to overthrow the left-wing movement led by Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. However, after ruling until 2019, Juntos lost power during a currency crisis and high inflation.
Macri defended his decision to support Milei, claiming that he symbolizes change in Argentine politics. He accused Morales and his faction of secretly supporting Massa, denying that Juntos por el Cambio is broken. However, Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, who lost to Bullrich in the nomination race, openly criticized her choice, describing Milei’s ideas as “dangerous” and warned against a populist return.
Inflation running at triple digits and the economy facing its sixth recession in a decade should have made this year’s election an easy win for Juntos por el Cambio. However, Milei’s surprising victory in the August primary severely disrupted the coalition and hindered its recovery. Bullrich only received 24% of the vote, coming in third place behind Massa and Milei. In comparison, even in his previous defeat to the Peronists, Macri received 40% of the vote, with Juntos being blamed for economic issues at that time.
Given the current circumstances, the opposition had a golden opportunity to secure a victory. However, their internal disagreements have caused them to miss this chance, leaving the outcome of the upcoming contest even more uncertain.
(Updates with Macri comments in 10th paragraph.)
