Argentina elects Mauricio Macri new president

World Today

Argentina electionMauricio Macri (L) celebrating with his wife Juliana Awada and his daughter Antonia, at the Cambiemos (Let’s Change) party headquarters in Buenos Aires on November 22, 2015, after getting early results of the presidential run-off election in Argentina. Photo released by Cambiemos press office.

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.

A police officer writes on a national voter registration list in a voting station during the presidential election at Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 22, 2015. Photo by Ivan Alvarado.

A police officer writes on a national voter registration list in a voting station during the presidential election at Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 22, 2015. Photo by Ivan Alvarado.


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.

Argentinian President Cristina fernandez de Kichner casts his vote during the run-off election in Río Gallegos, province of Santa Cruz, Argentina on November 22, 2015. Argentines started voting Sunday in a runoff election in which pro-business right-winger Mauricio Macri will try to end 12 years of left-wing government by beating center-leftist Daniel Scioli. AFP PHOTO/WALTER DIAZ

Argentinian President Cristina fernandez de Kichner casted her vote during the runoff election in Río Gallegos, province of Santa Cruz, Argentina on November 22, 2015.  Photo by Walter Diaz.


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.

Macri4

Daniel Scioli and his wife Karina Rabolini gestured after he acknowledged his defeat in the run-off presidential election in Buenos Aires, November 22, 2015. Scioli conceded defeat in Sunday’s presidential election after calling his center-right challenger Mauricio Macri to congratulate him. Photo by Marcos Brindicci.

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!”

Macri3

Mauricio Macri delivered a speech to his supporters after the presidential election in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 22, 2015. The screen reads “Thanks”. Photo by Ivan Alvarado.

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.

Photo released by Cambiemos press office of the Head of Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and candidate for the Cambiemos (Let's Change) party, Mauricio Macri (R), and his running mate Gabriela Michetti (L) celebrating at the Cambiemos (Let's Change) party headquarters in Buenos Aires on November 22, 2015, after getting early results of the presidential run-off election in Argentina. Argentina's conservative president-elect Mauricio Macri promised a "marvelous" new era was starting for the country after he won a runoff election on Sunday. AFP PHOTO/ Cambiemos

Mauricio Macri (R), and his running mate Gabriela Michetti (L) celebrating at the Cambiemos (Let’s Change) party headquarters in Buenos Aires on November 22, 2015, after getting early results of the presidential run-off election in Argentina. Photo released by Cambiemos press office.

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.