Argentina votes in a controversial candidate's election

 Argentina votes in a controversial candidate's election

Argentines are electing a new president in a contest that has been upended by anti-establishment populist and self-described "libertarian" Javier Milei's rise to the top of the polls.

Right-wing economist Mr. Milei is vocal, and younger people have taken a like to his "shock-jock" demeanor and active social media campaigning.

His two biggest opponents are now on the defensive after his triumph in the primary.

A serious economic crisis is present at the time of the election.

The third-largest economy in Latin America is struggling with triple-digit inflation and a depreciated currency that has reduced the number of people living in poverty to 40%.

Argentina still owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF) $46 billion (£38 billion), making it the largest single debtor in the world.

The center-right opposition, which has picked former security minister Patricia Bullrich, and the left-wing Peronist organization, whose nominee is the current economics minister Sergio Massa, have historically controlled elections in this country.

However, Javier Milei's victory in the primaries in August has completely altered the course of the campaign.

In Argentina, a TikTok celebrity carrying a chainsaw is in the lead.

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Mr. Milei, who has maintained his lead in the polls, defeated Mr. Massa and Ms. Bullrich to take second and third, respectively.

Myriam Bregman and Juan Schiaretti are two additional contenders who behind the top three.

Mr. Milei has come under pressure from Mr. Massa and Ms. Bullrich for his comments in which he expressed a strong dislike for "communists" and even Pope Francis.

He suggests doing away with Argentina's central bank, abandoning the Argentine peso (which he refers to as "excrement"), and switching to the US dollar as a replacement in order to lower inflation.

The 52-year-old has promoted his idea at campaign rallies by waving enormous fake dollar notes and brandishing a chainsaw, which he claims depicts an overburdened government bureaucracy servicing a "parasitic political caste."

He has threatened to reduce the size of government by shutting the ministries of sport, culture, and women, shouting "Viva La Libertad, carajo!" (Long Live Freedom, darn it!). He would also combine the portfolios for education and health.

The 51-year-old Mr. Massa has been attempting to preserve the social and labor credentials of the Peronist movement.

He claims that the austerity policies adopted by his government are a consequence of the previous center-right administration's IMF debt accumulation.

The dual currency system put up by Ms. Bullrich, 67, would merge the peso and the dollar throughout the economy, harmonizing the exchange rate and easing limits on the dollar.

The nation, which in August saw a wave of widespread shop lootings and has also witnessed an upsurge in drug-trafficking violence in several towns, has pledged to restore "order" under the leadership of the former security minister, branded by some as Argentina's "Iron Lady" and presenting herself as tough on crime.

She called Mr. Milei "emotionally unstable" and urged Mr. Massa to "explain to Argentines how you can be the best president while being the worst minister of the economy."

According to polls, a runoff election for president is expected to take place on November 19.

A candidate would need to get more than 45% of the vote, or 40% plus a lead of 10% over their nearest challenger, to win the election outright in the first round.

With five people running, it is doubtful but not impossible.

Argentine voters will pick a new president and vice president for a four-year term as well as 130 new representatives for the lower legislative chamber of Congress, which consists of 257 members, and 24 new senators for the house of representatives, which consists of 72 members.