Argentina: Accusations abound as presidential debate erupts on TV

Opposition candidate Mauricio Macri gaining fresh momentum aheady of Sunday run-off

Mauricio Macri kisses his wife as Daniel Scioli looks on at the end of the TV debate (Reuters)

The opposition candidate in Argentina’s presidential race, Mauricio Macri, appears to be gaining fresh momentum towards victory in Sunday’s run-off vote to replace outgoing President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, following a televised debate marked by ferocious exchanges.

Promising reforms to tackle deep economic imbalances, Mr Macri, the Mayor of Buenos Aires, accused Daniel Scioli, the candidate of the ruling Front for Victory party, of distorting the opposition platform for change and of being part of a government that has misled voters about the real state of the economy.

The race to replace Ms Fernandez was upended by a first round of voting last month, when a heavily-favoured Mr Scioli, the governor of Buenos Aires province, scraped into first place ahead of Mr Macri, shocking supporters and forcing the first presidential run-off in the country’s history.

Mr Macri, who has campaigned under the slogan of “Let’s Change”, has a lead of as much as eight points in the most recent polls, apparently unharmed by warnings from Mr Scioli that his promised economic reforms, including a relaxation of currency controls and a likely devaluation as well as new spending curbs, would trigger a repeat of the economic calamity suffered by Argentina 15 years ago.

“I’m waiting for an answer to the question: who’s going to pay the costs of the devaluation when you free the exchange rate and lift currency controls and begin to remove subsidies?” Mr Scioli asked in Sunday’s debate. “You, the worker, need to know that I am here to protect your future.”

If he prevails, Mr Macri would be expected to take swift steps to undo much of the Peronist and populist legacy of Ms Fernandez, whose eight years in power were preceded by the four-year presidency of her late husband, Nestor Kirchner. He has also indicated an intention to finally end Argentina’s long-running debt default and settle with holders of that debt dismissed as “vulture funds” by Ms Fernandez.

As part of a strategy to end Argentina’s pariah status not just in debt markets but also, to a degree, on the diplomatic stage with the West, Mr Macri has also hinted at wanting to lower the temperature of debate with Britain over Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

Mr Scioli continued to play the fear card at the debate, seen by the biggest TV audience in the country since the 2014 World Cup final, saying Mr Macri’s policies would “bring Argentina to its knees.” Mr Macri replied: “I don’t think people are afraid. I think you all are the ones who are afraid because you have abused power.”