On Sunday (19), as Argentines voted in the second round of presidential elections, the outgoing president, Alberto Fernández, made an impassioned call for respect for democracy. Speaking after casting his vote at a polling station at the Catholic University in Buenos Aires, Fernández said: “It’s another day when we Argentines vote and define our future. I wish it to be a day of happiness for Argentines.”

Despite facing criticism from Milei’s party, A Liberdade Avança, over potential fraud allegations, Fernández refrained from answering questions from reporters present and instead urged voters to “respect and take great care of democracy”. The election is taking place amidst controversy, with some observers suggesting that voter turnout may be lower than usual due to concerns about safety and security.

Fernández has been president since 2018 and will hand over power to his successor on December 10th. Around 35.8 million Argentines are eligible to vote today, with voting being mandatory for citizens aged between 18 and 70 and optional for adults and teenagers aged 16 and 17, as well as for residents abroad. The two candidates who reached the second round are Sergio Massa of the Peronist Justicialist Party (PJP) and Javier Milei of the far-right party La Libertad Avança (LLA).