Fuerza Patria Dominates Buenos Aires Elections, Signaling Major Setback for Javier Milei
Fuerza Patria, an alliance of Peronist opposition factions, decisively defeated President Javier Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party in the Buenos Aires legislative elections on September 7, 2025, a critical event ahead of the national elections next month, reports 24brussels.
With over 80% of the votes counted, Fuerza Patria secured approximately 47% of the total votes, while La Libertad Avanza garnered nearly 34%. Led by Governor Axcel Kicillof, Fuerza Patria achieved a total of 46.93% of the vote, leaving their right-wing rivals trailing by more than 13 percentage points.
The provisional results indicated that Fuerza Patria won in six out of eight electoral sections, standing tall in 99 of the 135 municipalities in Buenos Aires, as noted by Carlos Bianco, the Minister of Government of the Province of Buenos Aires. He asserted that the results reflect a significant endorsement for their political force.
Voter turnout was reported at 64%, a notable decrease from the district’s historical average of around 75%. Given that the province of Buenos Aires is the most populous and economically significant in Argentina, these elections serve as a vital indicator of public sentiment toward Milei’s administration ahead of the national legislative elections on October 26.
During this election, citizens voted for 23 provincial senators (full), 15 alternates, 46 provincial deputies (full), and 28 alternates, which renews half of the legislative seats in both chambers. Municipal elections were also held for councilors and school board members across 135 municipalities.
The elections occurred amid rising tensions resulting from a corruption scandal involving Karina Milei, the president’s sister, who faced allegations of improprieties at the National Disability Agency. These results represent a significant blow to Milei’s aspirations, amidst widespread criticism of his administration marked by cuts to social benefits, rising utility prices, and declining real incomes. Intriguingly, this marked the first time in 42 years that legislative elections in Buenos Aires were conducted separately from national elections.