Mauricio Macri, the presidential candidate for Argentina’s opposition conservative Cambiemos (Let’s Change) Party, won in Sunday’s runoff election. He will be sworn in on Dec. 11.
Argentina’s new era of Mauricio Macri
Conservative candidate Mauricio Macri won the country’s first ever second round runoff election, and is expected to bring in a series of transformations to Argentina.
Joel Richards reports from Buenos Aires.
Argentina's new era of Mauricio Macri
Conservative candidate Mauricio Macri won the country's first ever second round runoff election, and is expected to bring in a series of transformations to Argentina. Joel Richards reports from Buenos Aires.With over 99 percent of the votes counted, Macri, who campaigned on promises to reform and jump-start the South American country’s sagging economy, had 51.4 percent support compared to 48.6 percent for the ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli.
Author Mark Weisbrot on the significant changes happening in Argentine politics
CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke with Mark Weisbrot who is an author and co-Director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He started by asking Weisbrot what he sees as the future for the Argentine economy now that a conservative is set to rule Argentina.
Macri’s victory marks an end to 12 years of left-leaning government by the ruling party, the Front for the Victory, which came to power in 2003 under the presidency of Nestor Kirchner (2003-2007) and continued under his successor and wife Cristina Fernandez, whose second term ends this December.
Regional implications of Macri’s victory in Argentina
The outgoing government of President Cristina Kirchner was a strong ally of many of the leftist administrations in Latin America, and some are facing stronger political opposition.
CCTV America’s Stephen Gibbs reports.
During the presidential election, the Cambiemos Party criticized the governing ability of the ruling party and the country’s development mode of state intervention, putting forward a series of measures to recover the economy, like opening the market, improving the country’s investment environment and striving for methods that are supported by international financial institutes and investors.
“People have chosen anther road. I hope Macri can lead the country to gain greater achievements on this road,” said Daniel Scioli.
Mauricio Macri vowed to bring a new era to the country after the election. He told his supporters: “today you turned the impossibility into reality with your votes, and you did what no one would believe before. On Dec. 10 Argentina will start a wonderful era. Here and now, go! go! Argentina!”
Analysts think that after Macri takes office, he will have to face the issue of how to handle the economic pressure.
Earlier current Cabinet Chief, Anibal Fernandez, wished Macri’s new government well, and called on it to stick to its campaign promises to protect vulnerable sectors of society.
China also congratulated Mauricio Macri on winning the presidential election. “We are willing to work with Argentina to upgrade China-Argentina relations to a new level,” said Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.
Story compiled with information by CCTV America and The Associated Press.