Fernandez wins landslide as Argentines vote in first presidential round
Early results from the first round of Argentina's presidential elections show University of Buenos Aires Law Professor Alberto Fernández, ahead of incumbent President Mauricio Macri by 15%.
As of 11:45 p.m. local time, with 86% of precincts in, Fernández garnered 47.3% of the vote, Macri's right-wing 'Together for Change' a distant second at 32.3%, and centrist candidate Roberto Lavagna's 'Federal Consensus' at 8.4%.
Running on the center-left 'Front for Everyone' ticket with former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Fernández (no relation) won in 22 of 24 districts, losing only in Córdoba Province and the City of Buenos Aires.
His party also wrested Buenos Aires Province - home to 3 out of 8 Argentines - from a close Macri ally, Governor María Eugenia Vidal, who lost to economist Axel Kicillof by nearly 17%.
Alberto Fernández, 60, served as chief of staff to the late populist President Néstor Kirchner, whose 2003-07 term is widely credited with raising Argentina from its 2001-02 collapse.
Now a senator, Mrs. Kirchner, 66, had been widely expected to run for president this year - but surprised many by announcing on May 18 that she would instead be Fernández's running mate.
Some 34 million Argentines age 16 and over were registered to vote in this year's elections. Turnout was reportedly high at 75.5%.
Macrisis
Today's rebuke was unexpectedly severe for Macri. Polls had shown Fernández's advantage narrowing since June to around 3% - though door-to-door polls had the difference at around 8%.
The pro-business Macri, 60, enjoyed support from most local media outlets, financial markets - who have profited from Macri's policy of issuing $29 billion in short-term bills yielding 63% - and U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom Macri shares both ideology and a 35-year friendship.
But he lost popularity amid discontent over austerity measures, massive utility hikes, a foreign debt crisis and IMF bailout, the deepest recession since 2002, and inflation up from 23% when Macri was elected to 56% currently.
"We've always fixed the problems others left behind," Fernández recalled during his victory speech. "Our sole task will be to restore the happiness Argentines lost."
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The nine Argentine presidential candidates, running this year amid a deep recession and debt crisis.
All eyes are on incumbent right-wing President Mauricio Macri (top left); and his center-left rival, Alberto Fernández (2nd, top row).
Exit polls show Fernández's 'Front for Everyone' ahead by 15%, marking an unexpectedly severe rebuke for Macri's neo-con policies.
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