Argentines vote for president, ending Kirchner dynasty

Their heir apparent, Buenos Aires provincial Governor Daniel Scioli, is poised to win but may undo parts of their controversial legacy. The frontrunner has vowed to uphold the core elements of “kirchnerism,” a populist creed built around trade protectionism, social welfare and defense of the working classes.

But the 58-year-old powerboating fanatic –who lost his right arm in a 1989 racing accident –has also vowed a change in style to attract more investment and increase productivity, and has assembled an economic team of free-marketeers.

His top rival is Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, the candidate of Argentines fed up with what they see as the Kirchners’ heavy-handed economic policy and belligerent politics.

Macri, 56, rose to prominence as the boss of Argentina’s most popular football club, Boca Juniors, which won a string of titles under his reign. There may also be a spoiler in the form of Sergio Massa, a former Kirchner ally who fell out with the president and launched a rival party, the Renewal Front, two years ago.

Under Argentine electoral law, in order to win outright in the first round, a candidate must claim more than 45 per cent of the vote, or at least 40 per cent with a margin of 10 points over the runner-up.

Opinion polls have put Scioli at about 40 per cent, with Macri at around 30 per cent and Massa at around 20 per cent -- roughly the same scores seen in the August primary.

That means the country could be headed for its first-ever run-off election, on November 22.

“There’s no doubt about who will come in first and second. The real question is whether there will be a second round,” said pollster Ricardo Rouvier.