BUENOS AIRES: Argentines are voting in a presidential poll that might see the victory of Javier Milei, a far-right candidate, who has vowed to overhaul the country’s ailing economy.
The polling kicked off at 8 am local time (11:00 GMT) and would continue until 6pm local time (21:00 GMT), with results to be announced by late Monday.
During Sunday’s poll voters are also selecting members of the Congress and provincial governors. Over all 130 lower house representatives and 24 national senators would be elected.
Due to the economic decline and record inflation, chances of libertarian outsider Javier Milei, the 52-year- populist leader of the Liberty Advances party, to win the race are bright.
Milei an economist and first-year lawmaker emerged as an unexpected frontrunner in the August primary election after he described himself as an anarcho-capitalist.
Milei has been winning the support of Argentinians by promoting radical policy changes. He has also been compared to Donald Trump in the United States and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil.
Voters in the South American country are angry at traditional parties for failing to address nation’s ailing economy for decades.
Milei during his election campaign has mostly focused on the economy, which experts agree is perhaps the most important challenge Argentina is facing right now. The inflation in the country has reached at a whopping 138 percent in September and only expected to grow by the end of the year.
Milei proposes to eliminate central bank
Milei has suggested to eliminate the central bank and replacing the local currency with the US dollar to fix the economic issues. Ecuador and El Salvador have already taken the same measures.
Being opponent of socialism at home and abroad, the politician has also promised cultural reforms. He also presented himself as an and is a staunch critic of abortion, which he has described as murder.
Patricia Bullrich, a 67-year-old former security minister and Sergio Massa, the 51-year-old incumbent economy minister are Milei’s main rivals.
A candidate must secure 45 percent of the vote to win the presidential election.
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According to pre-election polls Milei has the best chance of winning. The new president and vice president are likely to assume office on December 10.
