Argentina's political machinery has shifted into election mode earlier than usual. With the 2027 presidential elections still more than a year away, both the ruling party and the opposition are already maneuvering for alliances and candidates. The recent meeting between Karina Milei, the president's sister and secretary general of the presidency, and envoys from the PRO party marks the unofficial start of the electoral calendar.
Government and PRO: A Budding Alliance
On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Karina Milei met with representatives of the PRO at the Casa Rosada, following two phone conversations with former president Mauricio Macri. The meeting, which lasted about 25 minutes, was the first step toward exploring a possible coalition for 2027. According to sources, the government's confidence has waned since the October 2025 legislative elections, prompting the Milei brothers to reconsider their earlier stance of electoral self-sufficiency.
Participants included Martín Menem (president of the Chamber of Deputies), Eduardo Lule Menem, Diego Santilli, Cristian Ritondo, and Fernando de Andreis. Reports on the outcome are mixed: while De Andreis gave an optimistic account in private, other Macri allies described the meeting as negative. Nevertheless, both sides agreed to meet every two weeks to continue talks.
Points of Agreement and Friction
One area of potential consensus is the candidacy of Diego Santilli for governor of the crucial Buenos Aires province. However, the race for mayor of Buenos Aires City remains unresolved, with a dispute between Mauricio Macri and his cousin, current mayor Jorge Macri.
A major sticking point is the future of primary elections (PASO). The government wants to eliminate them, while the PRO defends their existence. A bill to abolish PASO was sent to the Senate on April 22, 2026, but it lacks the necessary votes to pass.
Peronism's Internal Battle: Kicillof vs. Kirchnerism
On the opposition side, the conflict is becoming more explicit. On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Axel Kicillof, governor of Buenos Aires province, met with Máximo Kirchner, son of former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, at a hotel in the Retiro neighborhood. The meeting was attended by the top echelon of Kirchnerism, including governors from La Pampa, La Rioja, Tierra del Fuego, and Formosa, as well as legislative leaders José Mayans and Germán Martínez.
Kicillof's only show of strength was the incorporation of Santiago Cúneo, a minor political figure with poor public image. The relationship between Kicillof and Cristina Kirchner has been broken since October 2025, and the governor is seeking to wrest control of the Peronist movement through an internal party election.
Public Opinion and Economic Challenges
Polls reflect a difficult scenario for the government. According to a survey by the University of San Andrés, 61% disapprove of Milei's performance, and 57% believe the country has worsened. Unemployment concerns have risen to 41%, and inflation remains a central issue.
Another alarming indicator is the rise in loan defaults: 5.3 million people have debts overdue by more than three months, and the average delinquency rate in virtual wallets is around 30%. Economy Minister Luis Caputo has called the interest rates charged by these platforms 'abusive,' but no concrete measures have been announced yet.
What's at Stake
Beyond the presidency, the 2027 elections will determine the future of Argentina's party system and the way business is conducted with the state. Major economic groups are losing public contracts they previously took for granted, and public works are no longer negotiated with the corporate network implicated in the 'notebooks' corruption scandal.
For Milei, the goal is to win outright in the first round. A runoff would be risky, as it could unite all opposition factions. History shows how close such races can be: Macri won in 2015 by less than two points against a weakened Peronism.
As Argentina gears up for a long campaign, the ruling party seeks allies while the opposition grapples with internal divisions. The next few months will be crucial in shaping the electoral landscape.