2015 Argentine general election

2015 Argentine general election
Election name	2015 Argentine general election
Country	Argentina
Type	presidential
Previous election	2011 Argentine general election
Previous year	2011
Next election	2019 Argentine general election
Next year	2019
Election date	25 October 2015 (first round); 22 November 2015 (runoff)
Turnout	80.0%

2015 Argentine general election was held to elect the President of Argentina and members of the National Congress of Argentina. The presidential vote produced no first-round majority, leading to a runoff between candidates from the Front for Victory and Cambiemos coalitions, culminating in the election of Mauricio Macri as president. Parliamentary elections reshaped representation in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies and the Argentine Senate, affecting legislative dynamics with provincial and national implications.

Background

The poll followed the two-term presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, whose tenure was preceded by Néstor Kirchner and tied to the Kirchnerism political movement and the Justicialist Party. Argentina faced conflicts with holdout creditors in the Argentine debt restructuring saga, interactions with the International Monetary Fund, and disputes over MercoSur trade policy. Social debates referenced the 2010 Argentine same-sex marriage law, the 2013 legislative elections, and provincial disputes such as those in Buenos Aires Province and Santa Cruz Province. Tensions involving the Federal Administration of Public Revenues and industrial sectors, combined with international relations with United States and China, framed voter concerns alongside inflation and currency controls.

Electoral system

The presidential election used the modified two-round system established by the Argentine Constitution, whereby a candidate could win in the first round with over 45% of valid votes or with at least 40% and a 10-point lead over the runner-up. Failing that, the top two candidates proceeded to a runoff. The Argentine Chamber of Deputies members were elected by proportional representation in multi-member districts using the D'Hondt method, while the Argentine Senate used a limited voting system allocating seats to majority and minority lists per province. Voting was mandatory for citizens between designated ages as regulated by the Electoral Code and overseen by the National Electoral Court (Argentina).

Candidates and parties

Major presidential contenders included Daniel Scioli representing the Front for Victory (Argentina), Mauricio Macri leading the center-right Cambiemos coalition formed from the Propuesta Republicana, Unión Cívica Radical, and Coalición Cívica ARI, and Sergio Massa heading the United for a New Alternative alliance drawn from the Renewal Front. Other notable figures were Adolfo Rodríguez Saá of the Federal Commitment, Aníbal Fernández in internal discussions, and leaders from provincial parties such as Frente Renovador de la Concordia and Frente de Izquierda y de los Trabajadores. Congressional slates featured established lists from the Broad Front, Socialist Party (Argentina), Radical Civic Union, and provincial parties from Mendoza Province and Córdoba Province.

Campaign

Campaign themes included debates over taxation, currency exchange controls, industrial policy disputes, and approaches to sovereign debt litigation involving NML Capital and international courts. The Cambiemos campaign emphasized market-friendly reforms and ties to International Monetary Fund-style confidence, while the Front for Victory defended industrial policy continuity and social program spending linked to Asignación Universal por Hijo. High-profile events included televised debates, rallies in Plaza de Mayo, visits to La Rural, and provincial tours across Patagonia and the Gran Buenos Aires conurbation. Media coverage involved outlets such as Clarín (Argentine newspaper), La Nación, and Página/12, with advertising and grassroots mobilization coordinated by campaign teams engaging in digital outreach and union-related networks like Confederación General del Trabajo.

Opinion polls

Polling throughout the campaign showed shifting leads among Daniel Scioli, Mauricio Macri, and Sergio Massa with varying margins across provinces. Early surveys suggested a Scioli plurality in Buenos Aires Province and Santa Fe Province, while Macri led in City of Buenos Aires and several Patagonia districts. Polling institutions such as Poliarquía Consultores, Analogías, and Management & Fit produced divergent first-round estimates, and most trackers indicated a likely runoff scenario. Late-stage polls tightened margins, reflecting volatility from campaign events, debate performances, and regional economic indicators.

Results

No candidate secured the threshold for a first-round victory. In the first round, Daniel Scioli obtained the plurality of votes, followed by Mauricio Macri, with Sergio Massa placing third. The second-round runoff resulted in the victory of Mauricio Macri, who defeated Scioli and became the first democratically elected non-Peronist president since Fernando de la Rúa to take office through a runoff. Congressional election outcomes shifted the balance in the Chamber of Deputies with gains for Cambiemos lists and representation changes in the Senate reflecting provincial majorities. Provincial results in Tucumán Province, Mendoza Province, and Córdoba Province indicated continued regional strength for Peronist and non-Peronist forces respectively.

Aftermath and government formation

Following the runoff, the transition involved coordination between the outgoing administration of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and the incoming Macri team, including appointments drawing from figures associated with Propuesta Republicana and market-oriented administrators. Macri's government prioritized lifting foreign exchange controls, reengaging with International Monetary Fund officials, and addressing outstanding litigation with holdout creditors such as NML Capital. Cabinet selections included technocrats and provincial leaders, while negotiations in the National Congress of Argentina required coalition-building with the Radical Civic Union and allies. The post-election period saw debates over fiscal policy, the role of provincial governors like Sergio Urribarri and Juan Schiaretti, and the realignment of partisan alliances ahead of the 2017 Argentine legislative election.

Category:Presidential elections in Argentina Category:2015 elections