Jorge Macri, former President Mauricio Macri’s cousin, will represent the PRO party in the primary elections known as PASO where the Juntos por el Cambio (JxC) coalition will define its BA city mayoral candidate. The announcement was made by Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta after months of infighting – he had initially proposed a broad competition in the primary, but a few weeks ago he and former PRO president Patricia Bullrich (both JxC presidential hopefuls) agreed to endorse the same candidate.
Macri will now compete in the PASO on behalf of PRO, the main party within the JxC coalition, against Martín Lousteau, of the Unión Cívica Radical (UCR), the minority member. A spokesperson for Lousteau confirmed to the Herald that he’s still running.
Jorge Macri was mayor of Vicente López between 2011 and 2021, and following that he joined the current BA city administration as Goverment Minister.
In a press statement released this morning, Rodríguez Larreta said that in the past few weeks he and his team have been carefully analyzing both candidates.
“Fernán [Quirós, current BA city Health Minister] and Jorge have ample capacity to face this challenge. Jorge’s polling numbers are strong, and Fernán has a lot of potential.”
“I trust Jorge and I am sure he will leave everything to live up to the legacy Mauricio started in 2007 and that I have had the honor to continue since 2015,” he added. “He is a man with unique experience and management skills, who turned Vicente López into one of the most advanced municipalities in the country. His vision, management skills and commitment to transformation will continue to make Buenos Aires a beacon for all Argentina and Latin America.”
Patricia Bullrich, former PRO President and presidential candidate, tweeted her congratulations to Macri and added: “I told you a long time ago, it’s you.”
Mauricio Macri, who has remained silent regarding which JxC coalition presidential candidate he’ll back in the elections, has openly supported his cousin since the beginning of the year.