Mauricio Macri decided not to run in the October presidential election, signaling a pause in a political comeback that began to take shape after he left office amid a national crisis in 2019. He has since published two books that map a renewed political stance. The first, Para qué, serves as an updated blueprint for the Argentine right, reviewing his administration and hinting at a potential second chapter. Polls showed him trailing, while three regional contenders—Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, Patricia Bullrich, and María Eugenia Vidal—held stronger numbers and appeared better positioned in pre-election surveys. The trio challenged the idea of any immediate endorsement from the ex-president.
Macri rejected the notion that stepping aside reflected social rejection, despite broad popularity for the current Peronist government. Alberto Fernández remains wary of his tenure, recalling its pitfalls. “I’m convinced. It cost me dearly, because ego is too strong. If you trust me all these years, believe me, I’m acting because it should be better for everyone. If we empower ourselves with change, ideas belong to everyone, not one figure,” he stated. He emphasized modernization, meritocracy, and transparency as shared goals.
The electoral landscape also drew fresh curiosity to Argentine politics as Cristina Fernández de Kirchner faced a six-year sentence and disqualification from elective posts last December, promising she would not run in this year’s election. The two leaders who have polarized the country for over a decade thus opted to stay out of the October race. Peronism anticipated Fernández to pursue reelection in a period marked by persistent bad news in the polls, with inflation running high and poverty affecting many households.
surprise announcement
The opening Sunday of 2023 brought a video where Macri explained why he stepped away from the race after six minutes. He asserted that his coalition Together for Change could broaden its base of support, expressing that millions want him and his allies to work together again. He recalled that the path toward power began in 2015 and was interrupted in 2019.
against populism
His remarks carried a strong anti-populist message. He warned of a pattern where charismatic leaders promise salvation and steer the nation toward decline. He referenced the long legacy of Peronism and argued that reliance on a single savior has discouraged Argentines from accepting responsibility. He described a country where many still live in poverty, the economy remains strained, and crime pressures daily life. He urged a shift away from a seeker’s mindset toward collective action to drive meaningful social change.
In a later television interview, he reiterated the call to move beyond the pursuit of a savior and to empower citizens to shape a future they want to see.
Macri’s portrayal of the internal dynamics within Together for Change offered clarity, yet it did not resolve all strategic tensions within the coalition. A rising far-right current added pressure, nudging even Macri’s successors toward a more conservative stance than they might prefer.
A prominent critic weighed in on social networks, arguing that the former president’s failure stemmed from decision-making choices and a desire to stay in power, a limit that the public ultimately set. Supporters and opponents alike focused on the same policies that affected public works, national debt, and the fate of small and medium-sized enterprises. The debate captured a broader disagreement over the direction of Argentina’s development and governance.
Public commentary reflected the sense that the country faced ongoing challenges in governance and economic reform, with voices calling for more inclusive and pragmatic leadership. The episode underscored the fragility of poll numbers and the difficulty of building broad electoral coalitions in a volatile political environment.