12/07/2026 09:43 - Politica
On July 10, 2026, the Argentine government reactivated its electoral strategy for the upcoming 2027 presidential elections. According to gathered information, President Javier Milei has adopted a conciliatory posture. This was notably observed during the traditional 'Tedeum' (an ecumenical religious service held for national holidays) on July 9 in the province of Tucumán, where he greeted Jorge Macri and various provincial governors, seeking to build political bridges.
One of the central axes of the official strategy is the elimination of the PASO (Primarias, Abiertas, Simultáneas y Obligatorias, which translates to Open, Simultaneous, and Mandatory Primaries). This system, unique to Argentina, requires parties to hold internal primaries open to all voters. The initiative is driven by Karina Milei. However, the government faces a legislative challenge: it needs 37 senators but currently only holds 21, though it does command 129 deputies in the lower house.
To unblock the negotiation, the Casa Rosada (the seat of the Argentine executive branch) proposed implementing 'listas colectoras' (collector lists), an electoral mechanism where different party ballots support the same candidate. This measure has generated resistance. Minister Patricia Bullrich rejected this modality, arguing that it 'deforms the system.' Meanwhile, the PRO (Propuesta Republicana), a center-right political party and key ally, fears being left at a disadvantage if the PASO are eliminated and demands guarantees before moving forward.
Key Governors: The Cabinet Chief, Diego Santilli (who assumed office on 06/30/2026), is leading the negotiations with the provinces. The governors of the UCR (Unión Cívica Radical, a traditional center party)—Cornejo, Zdero, Sadir, Valdés, and Pullaro—and those of the PRO—Frigerio, Torres, Macri, and De Angeli—will be fundamental in reaching the necessary votes.
The ruling party is also closely observing the opposition landscape. There is concern within the government about a potential split of the vote by right-wing figures—whom some media have dubbed 'right-wing dwarfs'—and a possible candidacy by Vice President Victoria Villarruel.
According to internal polling data, which should be taken with caution, Milei would be at 32 points, while the influential Buenos Aires province Governor, Axel Kicillof, stands at 27 points. The government has attributed a recent dip in its public image to smear campaigns by the Peronist opposition linked to the 'Adorni case'.
On the economic front, the government presented its roadmap. Economy Minister Luis Caputo detailed a plan to cover debt maturities totaling US$24,000 million through the end of 2027. Furthermore, the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) refinanced US$6,000 million with 10 banks via REPO operations, postponing maturities to 2028.
Argentina's country risk experienced a drop to 402 basis points, its lowest level since April 2018. Inflation in the city of Buenos Aires (CABA) for June was 1.8%, with a national projection of 2%. Additionally, the IMF projects a 3.5% growth for 2026, providing a much more stable and optimistic scenario for political negotiations.
Source: Information compiled regarding the Argentine political landscape as of July 2026.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
