With expectations about how much the difference will be between Together for Change and the libertarians - who are fighting for second place - the vote closed in La Rioja.
It is discounted that the official
Ricardo Quintela
, from the Frente de Todos, will be re-elected governor for four more years and
will receive a visit this Monday from President Alberto Fernández.
"The visit of the first national president is always positive," Quintela said when he cast his vote, early in the morning.
He then secluded himself in his residence and will remain silent until he gives the press conference, scheduled for around 9:00 p.m.
The Juntos por el Cambio candidate, the national deputy
Felipe Alvarez
, promoted by Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, is confident of placing second;
while
Martín Menem
, nephew of the former president and candidate for the libertarian Javier Milei (La Libertad Avanza) seeks to step on his heels.
The day began with
some complaints about delays
in the opening of tables, although they were minor episodes.
"We demand transparency from the provincial Electoral Tribunal and that it not allow any maneuver that calls into question the integrity of the ballot boxes. Citizens deserve absolute confidence in this democratic process," Alvarez asked at the time of voting.
Felipe Alvarez casting his vote in La Rioja.
For his part, Martín Menem
did file a complaint at noon before the Electoral Court for "irregularities."
"Regarding the theft of votes, we are the only force that reported this situation, added to the fact that JxC councilor Mónica Villafañe called by chat to steal Martín's votes when entering the dark room," Sharif denounced in dialogue with
Clarín
.
Menem, who works in the La Libertad Avanza campaign.
Quintela - who at the end of April suffered a surprise hospitalization due to heart pain - has provincial deputy Teresita Madera as vice.
The province comes from months of unrest due to strikes by teachers, health and judicial workers.
Constitutional reform
The governor pushes a constitutional reform -already approved by the Legislature- that includes a universal income.
"There is not going to be a citizen in this province who does not have an income guaranteed by the provincial State," he had declared.
But for the opposition, it has no other objective than to prepare the field to endorse the re-election of the governor for a third term.
For this reason, the libertarians did not directly present candidates for the category of constituent conventions.
The electoral offer is completed with three more formulas:
Cristian Corzo and Edgardo Escobar (Liberal Force), Carolina Goycochea and Domingo Vedia (Left Front) and Mario Olmedo and José Dum (La Rioja Front)
.
The capital of La Rioja also elects a mayor.
The radical Inés Brizuela y Doria -the first opposition member to reach that place- will seek re-election.
The Secretary of the Interior, Armando Molina, competes for the Front of All.
Around 5:00 p.m., 65% of the register had already voted.
La Rioja has 302,872 citizens eligible to vote.
For that, 274 schools were set up, where 954 tables were set up.
1480 police officers were affected for the day.
look too
Javier Milei has already decided his running mate and Mauricio Macri confesses his worst nightmare
Elections 2023: a survey measured for the PASO and there was an unexpected winner in the Frente de Todos