STORY: Far-right candidate wins Argentina's presidential primaries
DATELINE: Aug. 15, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:18
LOCATION: Buenos Aires
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of people voting at polling stations
2. various of Javier Milei
3. various of Sergio Massa
4. various of Patricia Bullrich
5. various of people voting at polling stations
 
STORYLINE:
 
Far-right lawmaker Javier Milei took the lead in Argentina's presidential primary election held on Sunday.
 
Argentina's National Electoral Chamber announced on Monday that with 93 percent of votes counted, Milei, the only candidate of the Libertad Avanza Party, gained more than 30 percent of the vote, exceeding the 20 percent predicted by pollsters.
 
Center-right coalition candidate Patricia Bullrich had about 28 percent of the vote, and the current Minister of Economy Sergio Massa was coming in third with about 27 percent.

The general election for the 2023-2027 presidential term is expected to be held on Oct. 22.

The general election will also choose the vice president, 24 senators, 130 Chamber of Deputies members, and 43 Southern Common Market parliamentarians.
   
In October, a presidential ticket must obtain 45 percent of the votes, or 40 percent with a difference of at least 10 percentage points over the second place to win the race.
   
If necessary, a run-off election between the top two vote-getters will be held on Nov. 19, when a simple majority will determine the winner.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Buenos Aires.
(XHTV)