Salta governor Juan Manuel Urtubey (photo: Wikipedia)
Salta governor Juan Manuel Urtubey celebrated his second re-election on Sunday. With 51.2% of the vote, the Frente Para la Victoria (FPV) candidate defeated the Romero + Olmedo alliance candidate Jorge Romero by over 20%.
Salta is the second Argentine province to choose their governor this year, behind Neuquén. This will be Urtubey’s third and final term, as Salta’s constitution limits governors to three terms. Although Urtubey won by over 50%, Salta’s constitution only requires that candidates win by a simple majority, eliminating the possibility of a runoff.
“In Salta we see progress, but also pain. There needs to be more progress and less pain,” said Urtubey in his victory speech, referencing the high levels of poverty and inequality in the province. He also thanked the “beloved president for her enormous commitment to Salta.”
The wide victory of Urtubey did not come as a surprise after last month’s primary elections, in which he won 47% of the vote against Romero, who obtained 33%.
After complaints of lack of transparency due to the electronic ballot system in the primaries, Romero clarified that “all of the complaints [of irregularities] were about the previous election.”
In Salta’s capital city, the Frente Renovador candidate Gustavo Sáenz defeated FPV candidate Javier David by seven percentage points, winning 41% of the vote. Sáenz is supported by presidential candidate Sergio Massa, who considered that “the cities define the elections.”
Urtubey closed his acceptance speech by saying “We want an Argentina that integrates everyone!” referring to his goals for the economic and social inclusion of the northern provinces of Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, and Chaco.
The post Salta: Governor Urtubey Re-Elected for Third Term appeared first on The Argentina Independent.