Analysis/ The elections in Argentina may bring to power an admirer of former President Trump

On Sunday in Argentina, the runoff is being held within the framework of the presidential elections, which will determine whether the country with the largest economy in South America will take a political orientation towards the right.

Populist candidate Javier Milei, who is running for the first time and gained popularity from appearing on TV shows, has often been compared to former US President Donald Trump. He faces Economy Minister Sergio Massa, of the Peronist party, which has served as a leading force in Argentine politics for decades.

Under Mr. Massa's leadership, inflation has risen to over 140% and poverty has increased. Mr. Milei, who considers himself an anarchist capitalist, proposes shrinking state administration and tackling inflation, while Mr. Massa has warned of the negative consequences of such policies.

The highly polarized election has forced many voters to choose the candidate they think is the least bad option possible.

"Whatever comes out of these elections will not have credibility," said Lucas Romero, director of the political consulting firm Synopsis. "It would be extraordinary for Massa to win in this economic context, or for Miley to win against a candidate like Massa."

Polling stations opened at 8 am and remain open for ten hours. Voting is done on paper, making the counting process unpredictable, but initial results are expected to begin around three hours after polls close. Economist Milei went from being a critic of the "political caste" on television to winning a seat in parliament. two years ago. His long-winded criticism is being welcomed by Argentinians who are angered by the dire economic situation, particularly young men.

"Money comes out for less and less every day. I am a qualified individual and my salary is not enough for anything," says Esteban Medina, a 26-year-old who works in physical therapy in Ezeiza, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

Mr Massa, one of the most popular figures in a widely unpopular administration, was once seen as having very little chance of winning. However, he managed to mobilize the branches of his Peronist party and came out on top in the first round of voting.

During his election campaign, he warned Argentines that his opponent's plan to eliminate key ministries and greatly reduce the state could jeopardize public services, including health and education, as well as social programs that support many people. Mr Massa has also focused attention on his opponent's often aggressive rhetoric and publicly questioned his mental acuity; before the first round of voting, Mr. Milei sometimes took a chainsaw with him to rallies.
"Massa's only chance to win this election, at a time when people want change... is to turn it into a referendum on whether Milei is fit to be president or not," says Ana Iparraguirre, from the firm GBAO Strategies surveys.

The vote takes place while Mr. Milei alludes to possible electoral manipulation, claims similar to those of former American President Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Without presenting evidence, Mr. Milei claimed that there were irregularities in the first round of the presidential elections that affected the result. Experts say that such irregularities cannot change the outcome of the election and that his statements are partly aimed at mobilizing his base and motivating supporters to monitor the polling stations./VOA