By Sebastián Lacunza
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
PRO gets outstanding support after eight years in office
The electoral support for PRO in BA City has proved to be
outstandingly stable in Argentine politics. Even at the time of his
defeat to Aníbal Ibarra, Mauricio Macri mustered 37.5 percent in the
first round and reached 46.5 percent in the runoff, which was a
successful way to lose. It was 2003, when the political eco-system was
experiencing an earthquake and the party founded and funded by Macri
made its brilliant appearance on the horizon. The following victories in
2007 and 2011, with more than 45 percent in the first round, were
preludes to massive runoff-win advantages against the Kirchnerite
hopeful Daniel Filmus.
Last night’s results confirmed that the conservative party occupies such a high floor in Buenos Aires that it becomes extremely difficult to dislodge it from City Hall. Macri bet his right hand, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta — supposedly a man of action and little charisma at once. In short, nothing new under the sun. Macri paraded that same profile himself 10 years ago.
Getting more than 45 percent of votes after eight years in office is an undeniable success which confirms that Macri’s strategy in BA City has proven to be one of the most effective following the devastating crisis in 2001. That is the lesson that the BA City mayor and PRO presidential hopeful can teach the rest of the political leadership beyond the Kirchnerite Victory Front (FPV) and the Trotskyist Workers’ Leftist Front (FIT), the other two national brands that have recently shown real willingness to win elections.
Macri delivered an innovative show of talent when he created a centre-right party. First, he was patient and managed to survive defeats. He put together teams from different political strands without jeopardizing his leadership. Thus, PRO joined leaders from traditional right-wing forces (Democratic Party) and disintegrating ones (Ucedé, Progressive Democratic Party); orthodox Peronists figures (Christian Ritondo, Diego Santilli) and UCR leaders in diaspora (Hernán Lombardi). He brought in militants from the Social-Catholic field (Gabriela Michetti) and NGOs (Poder Ciudadano, Cippec, Greenpeace). Above all, he surrounded himself with a number of personalities without any background of political activism, many of them from the business sphere. Additionally, he learnt how to bring together the conservative and religious intelligentsia, for example, which spearheaded the opposition to gay marriage and, at the same time, he was able to open doors to figures of renewal, leaders of the gay cause. In recent times, PRO welcomed some figures who had offended Macri in the past (Elisa Carrió) and was a destination port for the ranting UCR, which offers the conservative party the national structure that he lacks.
Days ago, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner summarized PRO’s style as “balloons and chamuyo (empty words).” It’s not just that. Besides some works positively valued by local dwellers, Macri’s party entered the slums to fight Kirchnerism for every vote, as was once again proven yesterday.
However, yesterday’s polls also trigger warning signs for Macri’s presidential bid. At press time, the picture was not concluded in Córdoba, but it seemed that the alliance of every-party-but-Peronism did not lead to a landslide victory or anything of the sort.
Anyway, PRO’s most precious booty is also at risk. Despite the advantage of 20 percentage points over centrist Martín Lousteau, Rodríguez Larreta may lose Buenos Aires on 19 July, which would put an end to Macri’s national candidacy.
The BA City ruling party needs support from those who voted for the Kirchnerite Recalde and the two leftist ballots, FIT and Self-Determination and Freedom. That is, from the nearly 30 percent of registered voters who are most averse to PRO both ideologically and in terms of social identity. However, they also have a strong distrust of what they consider the fake centre-left represented by Lousteau. In that sense, if divisive Elisa Carrió takes centre-stage campaigning for the ECO candidate, Rodríguez Larreta could get the oxygen he needs in two weeks.
@sebalacunza
Last night’s results confirmed that the conservative party occupies such a high floor in Buenos Aires that it becomes extremely difficult to dislodge it from City Hall. Macri bet his right hand, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta — supposedly a man of action and little charisma at once. In short, nothing new under the sun. Macri paraded that same profile himself 10 years ago.
Getting more than 45 percent of votes after eight years in office is an undeniable success which confirms that Macri’s strategy in BA City has proven to be one of the most effective following the devastating crisis in 2001. That is the lesson that the BA City mayor and PRO presidential hopeful can teach the rest of the political leadership beyond the Kirchnerite Victory Front (FPV) and the Trotskyist Workers’ Leftist Front (FIT), the other two national brands that have recently shown real willingness to win elections.
Macri delivered an innovative show of talent when he created a centre-right party. First, he was patient and managed to survive defeats. He put together teams from different political strands without jeopardizing his leadership. Thus, PRO joined leaders from traditional right-wing forces (Democratic Party) and disintegrating ones (Ucedé, Progressive Democratic Party); orthodox Peronists figures (Christian Ritondo, Diego Santilli) and UCR leaders in diaspora (Hernán Lombardi). He brought in militants from the Social-Catholic field (Gabriela Michetti) and NGOs (Poder Ciudadano, Cippec, Greenpeace). Above all, he surrounded himself with a number of personalities without any background of political activism, many of them from the business sphere. Additionally, he learnt how to bring together the conservative and religious intelligentsia, for example, which spearheaded the opposition to gay marriage and, at the same time, he was able to open doors to figures of renewal, leaders of the gay cause. In recent times, PRO welcomed some figures who had offended Macri in the past (Elisa Carrió) and was a destination port for the ranting UCR, which offers the conservative party the national structure that he lacks.
Days ago, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner summarized PRO’s style as “balloons and chamuyo (empty words).” It’s not just that. Besides some works positively valued by local dwellers, Macri’s party entered the slums to fight Kirchnerism for every vote, as was once again proven yesterday.
However, yesterday’s polls also trigger warning signs for Macri’s presidential bid. At press time, the picture was not concluded in Córdoba, but it seemed that the alliance of every-party-but-Peronism did not lead to a landslide victory or anything of the sort.
Anyway, PRO’s most precious booty is also at risk. Despite the advantage of 20 percentage points over centrist Martín Lousteau, Rodríguez Larreta may lose Buenos Aires on 19 July, which would put an end to Macri’s national candidacy.
The BA City ruling party needs support from those who voted for the Kirchnerite Recalde and the two leftist ballots, FIT and Self-Determination and Freedom. That is, from the nearly 30 percent of registered voters who are most averse to PRO both ideologically and in terms of social identity. However, they also have a strong distrust of what they consider the fake centre-left represented by Lousteau. In that sense, if divisive Elisa Carrió takes centre-stage campaigning for the ECO candidate, Rodríguez Larreta could get the oxygen he needs in two weeks.
@sebalacunza