President Javier Milei suffered a stinging defeat in Buenos Aires. His coalition, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), finished nearly 14 percentage points behind the opposition in Sunday's local legislative elections. Because Buenos Aires accounts for 40 percent of Argentina's electorate, the race serves as a stress test for Milei's movement ahead of October's national legislative elections.
The Peronists, Argentina's dominant left-populist movement, not only held first place but widened its lead compared to the 2023 elections by two percentage points. Milei's coalition with the center-right Propuesta Republicana (PRO) improved on his solo run two years ago, but the combined forces still fell short. Both blocs gained seats, yet the anti-Peronist majority that once seemed within reach evaporated.
"We have suffered a clear defeat today….We must accept the results," Milei admitted. Yet he insisted that the outcome marked the opposition's "ceiling" and his coalition's "floor"—their best game, his worst.
