With 95% of the polling stations counted, the numbers were overwhelming: La Libertad Avanza prevailed in the province of Buenos Aires with 41.53% against Fuerza Patria's 40.84%, the Kirchnerist party led by Axel Kicillof. Despite the irreversible result, the Buenos Aires governor appeared after 11 p.m. at the La Plata headquarters to deliver a speech in which he avoided openly acknowledging defeat and instead chose to confront the national government.
"Milei is mistaken if he celebrates this electoral result, where six out of ten Argentines have said they do not agree with the model he proposes", Kicillof declared, attempting to downplay the scope of the libertarian victory.
In a restrained yet defiant tone, Kicillof thanked "the people of the Province of Buenos Aires who set a tremendous example of civic duty and democracy," and the members of his political group: "I want to thank the candidates of Fuerza Patria, the mayors for taking care of their people, Sergio Massa, Máximo Kirchner, all the leadership, and the social movements."
The most controversial moment of his speech came when he defended former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, stating: "I especially want to thank someone who should be here but is unjustly prosecuted, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner." That statement caused strong criticism on social media, where it was interpreted as an attempt at political victimization amid the defeat.
The governor acknowledged that the election was "very close, with a minimal difference", although he emphasized that Fuerza Patria will renew its 15 seats and add one more deputy in the lower house. Nevertheless, the focus of his message was directed at questioning President Milei: "Milei is mistaken if he overlooks the situation our people are going through, a situation of enormous suffering. Jobs have been lost, activity has declined, and the most vulnerable suffer more every day", he stated.
