After finishing third in Argentina’s presidential election, establishment right-winger Patricia Bullrich announced her support for far-right libertarian Javier Milei in the upcoming November 19 runoff against Economy Minister Sergio Massa.
But many of her former allies in the center-right opposition coalition will not be joining her, starting with Buenos Aires City Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, who was eliminated from the race in August after losing the primary to Ms. Bullrich.
In a press conference held shortly after Ms. Bullrich’s announcement yesterday, Mr. Larreta said he was not informed by Ms. Bullrich or former President Mauricio Macri about their meetings with Mr. Milei.
“I didn’t know anything. It was a midnight meeting, in secret. I was very surprised by the news and I don’t know what they discussed or what they agreed,” Mr. Larreta said.
As for his approach to the runoff, he argued that “both options are very bad” and vowed to continue working for a centrist alternative.
Other former allies of Ms. Bullrich and Mr. Macri also distanced themselves from the announcement, with the century-old Radical party organizing a press conference shortly after Ms. Bullrich’s to say it would not take sides. But when pressed for an answer, many Radicals indicated they would rather vote for Mr. Massa.
“Patricia Bullrich and Mauricio Macri decided to abandon [the center-right coalition] Together for Change. They made a unilateral decision without consulting anyone,” Radical Party figurehead Martín Lousteau said yesterday.
The center-right split could reshape Argentinian politics, with Mr. Macri taking an openly influential role in Mr. Milei’s camp, while the rest of the coalition tries to remain independent or opens talks with Mr. Massa.
Argentina’s stock market rose yesterday on the news, despite a global and regional sell-off, as investors prefer Mr. Macri’s economic advisers to those of Mr. Milei.
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