Argentine Presidential Election 2023: Javier Milei's Victory and Legislative Shift

The 2023 Argentine general election marked a significant turning point in the nation's political landscape. Following a competitive two-round process, Javier Milei emerged victorious, signaling a shift in leadership and policy direction for the country. The election was characterized by high voter turnout and a fragmented legislative environment.

The process began with the first round on October 22, 2023, and concluded with a decisive second-round runoff on November 19, 2023. Throughout the campaign, candidates engaged in high-profile debates, including presidential discussions in Santiago del Estero and Buenos Aires, and vice presidential debates hosted at the Todo Noticias headquarters.

Ballots used for the 22 October general election.

Key Facts

ภาพประกอบบทความ — ภาพประกอบจากบทความต้นฉบับ

Winner: Javier Milei (La Libertad Avanza) won the presidency with 55.65% of the vote in the second round.
Runner-up: Sergio Massa (Unión por la Patria) received 44.35% of the vote in the final round.
Voter Turnout: Participation remained high, with 77.14% in the first round and 76.32% in the second.
Legislative Impact: The election also determined the composition of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Key Figures: Luis Petri served as a prominent figure within the winning coalition's legislative push.

Presidential Election Results

The presidential race was a contest between diverse political ideologies. In the first round, Sergio Massa led with 36.78% of the vote, followed by Javier Milei at 29.99%. However, the momentum shifted significantly by the runoff.

The Runoff Outcome

In the second round, Javier Milei secured a decisive victory, garnering 14,554,560 votes. Sergio Massa followed with 11,598,720 votes. This result propelled Milei to the presidency, representing the La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party.

Provincial Performance

Milei's support was widespread, with particularly strong showings in provinces like Córdoba, where he secured 74.05% of the vote in the runoff. Conversely, Sergio Massa maintained stronger support in regions such as Santiago del Estero, where he won 68.51% of the second-round vote.

Legislative Election Results

Alongside the presidency, Argentina held elections for its national legislature, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).

Chamber of Deputies

The Chamber of Deputies consists of 257 seats. In the 2023 election, 130 seats were contested. The results showed a divided house:

Unión por la Patria: 58 seats (38.54% of the vote).
La Libertad Avanza: 35 seats (26.51% of the vote).
Juntos por el Cambio: 31 seats (26.60% of the vote).

The Senate

In the Senate, 24 of the 72 seats were up for election. The distribution of these seats was as follows:

Unión por la Patria: 13 seats (43.66% of the vote).
La Libertad Avanza: New entry with 25.93% of the vote.
Juntos por el Cambio: 25.62% of the vote.

Election Summary Table

Summary of 2023 Argentine General Election Results
Category	First Round (Oct 22)	Second Round (Nov 19)
Presidential Winner	N/A (Runoff Required)	Javier Milei (55.65%)
Total Votes Cast	35,854,122	35,405,398
Voter Turnout	77.14%	76.32%
Valid Votes (Runoff)	-	27,021,600

Candidate Profiles

The election featured candidates with vastly different professional backgrounds. Sergio Massa served as the Minister of Economy and former President of the Chamber of Deputies. Javier Milei, an economist, had previously served as a National Deputy for the City of Buenos Aires.

Other notable candidates included Patricia Bullrich, a former Minister of Security, and Juan Schiaretti, the long-time Governor of Córdoba Province.