Argentina Vote: Sergio Massa’s Energy Exports Plan

Argentina heads to the polls on October 22^nd. There are three frontrunners: the controversial outsider Javier Milei, the centre-right politician Patricia Bullrich and, leading the “Peronists”, Sergio Massa. The vote is very likely to end up in a second round. The country is deep in a prolonged economic crisis, and the three present ambitious programmes—to different degrees.

Massa’s plan is to ramp up exports in order to fix the trade and government deficits, including non-conventional sectors. He was minister of the economy under the incumbent, although he has remained somewhat of an outsider with his “Peronist” base. He has been part of proposing the idea for a common currency between Brazil and Argentina, and renewing the $18bn swap line with China, the top trade partner.