The July 9 deadline to present alliances for the Buenos Aires province legislative elections saw two major players formally inscribe their electoral fronts. While President Javier Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and right-wing party PRO made the alliance that has been in talks for months official, Peronism put their differences aside in order to present a single ballot. 

The three main sectors of Peronism managed to strike an agreement and inscribe their front under the name Fuerza Patria (Stay Strong Homeland). The Herald was able to confirm that Governor Axel Kicillof, former Economy Minister Sergio Massa, and national deputy Máximo Kirchner — son of former president Cristina Kirchner and leader of the La Cámpora Kirchnerist faction — completed last-minute details in talks held on Wednesday afternoon.

PRO-LLA is now an official alliance in Buenos Aires province

PRO announced the decision with a statement posted on X, also confirming that all 13 PRO mayors in Buenos Aires province will join. The Buenos Aires province LLA account also posted a short statement saying that the two parties see the issues at hand as “much larger than a simple election.”

“We have united to bring back freedom, order, and conditions-free growth to the citizens of Buenos Aires province,” they said. Despite their political closeness, LLA and PRO are not formal allies at a national level, something that has sparked tension for other elections, including in Buenos Aires City. 

The two will compete under the name of La Libertad Avanza. 

Sebastián Pareja and Cristian Ritondo — heads of LLA and PRO in the province — took a photo together signing the agreement on Wednesday at noon. They later participated in a press conference, which was spearheaded by LLA head at a national level and Presidency Secretary Karina Milei. 

“I want to thank each of them [referring to those present at the table] for the greatness of leaving their personal interests aside in order to join forces against the true enemy, Kirchnerism,” Karina Milei said. 

“Now, [Kirchnerism] will have a much stronger enemy to fight. We will fight and win to end it forever. This is Kirchnerism or freedom.”

Despite the alliance, the banners set up behind those sitting at the table only showed the name of La Libertad Avanza and its flying eagle logo, and its characteristic purple color. There were no visible signs that PRO was part of the deal.

Pareja said during the press conference that the alliance allowed entry to LLA of those who “defend the national government and the ideas of freedom.”

“Today is a very hopeful day for citizens of Buenos Aires province,” he added. Ritondo, on the other hand, said that their goal was to “end populism.”

PRO president at a national level, Mauricio Macri, was notoriously absent. Macri has had public disputes with Milei and LLA in recent months, particularly when he accused LLA of trying to sabotage the PRO candidate for the Buenos Aires City legislative elections earlier this year. However, Ritondo said that Macri “approved” of the alliance.

Wednesday, July 9, was the last day for parties who want to participate in the Buenos Aires province elections to file the documentation to constitute coalitions before the local electoral court. July 19 is the deadline for coalitions and parties to confirm their candidates for the September 7 election.