The end of the Kirchner era: Technocrat mayor of Buenos Aires wins presidential election to end 12 years of left wing leadership in Argentina

  • Opposition candidate Mauricio Macri won Argentina's presidential election
  • Macri won 51.5% of the vote in the run-off election against Daniel Scioli
  • His win ends the era of Cristina Fernandez who dominated political scene
  • Macri is known for a technocrat manner that stresses efficiency over style
  • He campaigned on promises to reform and jump start sagging economy  

Opposition candidate Mauricio Macri won Argentina's presidential election on Sunday marking an end to the often-combative era of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Fernandez, along with her late husband, dominated the country's political scene for 12 years and rewrote its social contract.

Ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli, Fernandez's chosen successor, conceded the vote late last night and said he had called Macri to congratulate him on a victory that promises to chart Argentina on a more free market, less state interventionist course.

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Opposition presidential candidate Mauricio Macri (pictured on Sunday) won Argentina's historic runoff election against ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli

Opposition presidential candidate Mauricio Macri (pictured on Sunday) won Argentina's historic runoff election against ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli

Macri's win puts an end to the era of President Cristina Fernandez, who along with her late husband dominated Argentine politics for 12 years

Macri's win puts an end to the era of President Cristina Fernandez, who along with her late husband dominated Argentine politics for 12 years

Macri celebrates with his wife Juliana Awada and daughter Antonia after winning the runoff election. Addressing thousands of cheering supporters, Macri said 'it's the changing of an era'

Macri celebrates with his wife Juliana Awada and daughter Antonia after winning the runoff election. Addressing thousands of cheering supporters, Macri said 'it's the changing of an era'

Supporters of Macri are seen celebrating after the results were announced on what he called a 'historic day'

Supporters of Macri are seen celebrating after the results were announced on what he called a 'historic day'

'Today is a historic day,' said Macri, 56, as he addressed thousands of cheering supporters as horns were heard blaring across Buenos Aires.

'This is the beginning of a new era that has to carry us toward the opportunities we need to grow and progress,' Macri told supporters at his headquarters, which pulsed with Latin music and was festooned with white and sky-blue balloons, the colors of the Argentine flag. 

His victory could also see an improvement in relations with Britain as Macri has indicated he will take a less aggressive and confrontational stance over the disputed Falkland Islands. 

Before the election he also said he would not be appointing a Falklands Minister and wanted to have good relations with all countries.  

With 98 per cent of the vote counted, Macri had 51.45 per cent support compared to 48.55 per cent for Scioli.

The victory by the business-friendly candidate, who gained a national profile as president of the popular Boca Juniors soccer club, comes after he did better than expected in the first round on October 25. 

The close first round forced a runoff with Scioli, the governor of the vast Buenos Aires province.

Macri, the outgoing mayor of Buenos Aires, hails from one of the country's richest families. 

On the campaign trail, he sometimes talked about being kidnapped in the early 1990s, an experience he said helped him understand the needs of others and he credits with pushing him into politics.

As mayor of Argentina's most important city, he was known for a technocrat manner that stressed efficiency over style.

Macri is pictured kissing his wife after winning the runoff election. He has promised to address the economic problems and to shake things up regionally

Macri is pictured kissing his wife after winning the runoff election. He has promised to address the economic problems and to shake things up regionally

He campaigned for president on promises to reform and jump start the South American country's sagging economy

He campaigned for president on promises to reform and jump start the South American country's sagging economy

He campaigned for president on promises to reform and jump start the South American country's sagging economy. 

He also pledged to lead by 'listening more and speaking less' than Fernandez, something he frequently said on the campaign trail.

'I'm so happy,' said Julia Juarez, a 66-year-old retired teacher who was one of thousands watching the returns at Macri's bunker. 

Above Macri celebrates his win with his wife and daughter at the Cambiemos (Let's Change) party headquarters

Above Macri celebrates his win with his wife and daughter at the Cambiemos (Let's Change) party headquarters

Supporters of Macri parade down the street as they celebrate his win on Sunday in downtown Buenos Aires

Supporters of Macri parade down the street as they celebrate his win on Sunday in downtown Buenos Aires

'Argentines are tired of this government. Tired of the corruption. We are ready for something new.'

Scioli, who had been expected to win by 10 or more points in last month's six-candidate first round of voting, tried to regain momentum before Sunday's runoff by frequently attacking Macri. 

He said a Macri win would subject this nation of 41 million people to the market-driven policies of the 1990s - a period of deregulation that many Argentines believe set the stage for the financial meltdown of 2001 to 2002. 

Supporters of Macri are pictured above celebrating at the Buenos Aires' Obelisk plaza  

Supporters of Macri are pictured above celebrating at the Buenos Aires' Obelisk plaza  

One Macri supporter celebrating his win said 'Argentines are tired of this government. Tired of the corruption. We are ready for something new'

One Macri supporter celebrating his win said 'Argentines are tired of this government. Tired of the corruption. We are ready for something new'

People often refer to their combined years in power of former president Cristina Kirchner and her late husband Nestor as the 'Kirchner era.'

The power couple spent heavily on programmess for the poor, raised tariffs to protect local economies and passed several progressive laws, including the legalization of gay marriage in 2010.

'This is a painful day for Argentines,' said Rocio Robador, a government supporter who was crying in the iconic Plaza de Mayo. 

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez approaches supporters after voting in the election in Rio Gallegos on Sunday.  Fernandez,  along with her late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, rewrote the country's social contract

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez approaches supporters after voting in the election in Rio Gallegos on Sunday.  Fernandez, along with her late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, rewrote the country's social contract

Fernandez and her husband spent heavily on programs for the poor, raised tariffs to protect local economies and passed several progressive laws, including the legalization of gay marriage in 2010

Fernandez and her husband spent heavily on programs for the poor, raised tariffs to protect local economies and passed several progressive laws, including the legalization of gay marriage in 2010

Daniel Scioli, the ruling party's presidential candidate, is pictured at his campaign headquarters with his wife Karina Rabolini (right) and daughter Lorena (left) on Sunday during a news conference to acknowledge his defeat

Daniel Scioli, the ruling party's presidential candidate, is pictured at his campaign headquarters with his wife Karina Rabolini (right) and daughter Lorena (left) on Sunday during a news conference to acknowledge his defeat

Robador, 36, said she was able to get pregnant and have a child thanks to a government that helps poor women get fertility treatments.

Macri frequently repelled Scioli's claim that Macri represented policies of the past, saying he would lead with '21st century development' as opposed to '21st century socialism' - a term used by supporters of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his successor, Nicolas Maduro.

The December 10 change of power will come at a time when Argentina's economy, Latin America's third largest, has stalled. 

Scioli had been expected to win by 10 or more points in last month's six-candidate first round of voting

Scioli had been expected to win by 10 or more points in last month's six-candidate first round of voting

Supporters of Scioli, the ruling party presidential candidate, are pictured in the Plaza de Mayo square on Sunday

Supporters of Scioli, the ruling party presidential candidate, are pictured in the Plaza de Mayo square on Sunday

Inflation is around 30 per cent, gross domestic product growth is just above zero and many private economists warn that the Fernandez administration's spending was not sustainable.

Macri had promised to address the economic problems and to shake things up regionally. 

He said, he would push to expel Venezuela from the South American trade bloc known as Mercosur because of the jailing of opposition leaders under Maduro.

That would be a huge change for a continent where many countries, including neighbors Chile, Brazil and Bolivia, have left-leaning democratic governments that have maintained close ties with Venezuela.

Scioli's supporters are pictured crying and hugging after learning the results in the presidential election. One supporter called it 'a painful day for Argentines' after Macri's win

Scioli's supporters are pictured crying and hugging after learning the results in the presidential election. One supporter called it 'a painful day for Argentines' after Macri's win

Supporters of Scioli pictured watching a live broadcast on Sunday. Scioli conceded defeat in Sunday's presidential election after calling his center-right challenger Macri to congratulate him

Supporters of Scioli pictured watching a live broadcast on Sunday. Scioli conceded defeat in Sunday's presidential election after calling his center-right challenger Macri to congratulate him

Over the course of the campaign, both candidates at times tried to straddle the center. 

Scioli said he would solve a long-standing New York court fight with creditors in the U.S. who Fernandez calls 'vultures' and has refused to negotiate with. 

Macri flipped his position and voiced support for the nationalization of the YPF oil company and Aerolineas Argentina, popular actions by the Fernandez administration.

But there were also clear differences.

Macri promised to lift unpopular controls on the buying of U.S. dollars and thus eliminate a booming black market for currency exchange. 

Doing that would likely lead to a sharp devaluation of the Argentine peso. 

With low foreign reserves, the government would desperately need an immediate infusion of dollars.

Those could come from many different places, but ultimately would require structural changes to a largely protectionist economy, solving the debt spat and developing warmer relations with other nations, including the United States. 

The December 10 change of power will come at a time when Argentina's economy, Latin America's third largest

The December 10 change of power will come at a time when Argentina's economy, Latin America's third largest

Macri wants to open Latin America's No. 3 economy to more investment by lifting currency and trade controls

Macri wants to open Latin America's No. 3 economy to more investment by lifting currency and trade controls

Macri won 51.5 per cent of the vote in the run-off election to 48.5 per cent for ruling party rival Scioli, a smaller margin of victory than expected

Macri won 51.5 per cent of the vote in the run-off election to 48.5 per cent for ruling party rival Scioli, a smaller margin of victory than expected

Macri's supporters swarmed around the iconic Obelisk in the heart of Buenos Aires's theater district as passing cars blared their horns in celebration

Macri's supporters swarmed around the iconic Obelisk in the heart of Buenos Aires's theater district as passing cars blared their horns in celebration

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