Exclusive: Argentina’s Fernandez to Challenge Macri in Upcoming Election

By Nicolás Misculin

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is planning to run for office again this year, according to two sources close to the left-leaning politician. This marks the strongest indication yet that the populist leader will challenge incumbent Mauricio Macri.

Although Fernández has not formally announced her candidacy for the October elections, sources indicate that she intends to prioritize boosting consumer purchasing power as a countermeasure to Macri’s austerity measures, which have negatively affected his popularity.

Should she confirm her candidacy, Fernández would be the first and most prominent challenger to Macri, who is anticipated to seek a second term. However, his administration has faced significant criticism due to rampant inflation and an economy that has struggled, impacting voters heavily.

A potential matchup between Macri and Fernández would likely dominate the election narrative, presenting a pivotal choice for Argentina’s economic and political direction: supporting Macri’s IMF-backed reforms or reverting to Peronist policies.

Fernández, who served as president from 2007 to 2015 and currently holds a Senate seat, is Macri’s principal political adversary and a leading critic within the Peronist movement.

While a spokesperson for Fernández’s party did not directly confirm her candidacy when approached by reporters, they stated that any government from her faction would aim to enhance the purchasing power of workers to strengthen the domestic market.

"She will be a candidate because she does not have any other option," said one unnamed source, a strategy advisor to Fernández, indicating that the announcement is not yet public. Another source close to the former president also confirmed her intention to run, asserting that she is the best candidate to lead the country.

Fernández faced legal trouble last year when she was indicted on charges of accepting bribes from construction companies in exchange for public works contracts. She has denied these allegations and maintained she never accepted illicit funds. While she enjoys immunity from arrest as a senator, she is not shielded from prosecution.