Axel Kicillof avoided admitting his major defeat in the PBA and criticized Javier Milei

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.

Kicillof also returned to his usual anti-business rhetoric, criticizing the international agreements promoted by the Government: "The Government went to the United States to ask for help and support. I want to clarify that neither the U.S. government nor JP Morgan are charitable organizations. If they came to Argentina, it is for no other reason than to make a profit and put our resources at risk", he asserted, in a statement that was celebrated by his supporters but questioned by the opposition.

Accompanied by Sergio Massa and Máximo Kirchner, the governor insisted on distancing himself from the direction of the national Executive, avoiding any self-criticism for the loss of the main electoral stronghold of Kirchnerism.

"Starting tomorrow, we have to see if the situation of our province, our people, those who face worsening daily lives, improves at all", he warned, assuring that "the situation of our people will not improve in the slightest as long as these same policies continue."

With a defiant tone, he defined the political dispute as a confrontation between "two models of country": one, according to him, "that attacks retirees, people with disabilities, and those who work"; and the other, Kirchnerism's, which he promised to "defend as a shield for those who suffer."

"We are going to use all resources and all possibilities to continue acting as a shield to protect those who suffer", Kicillof reiterated before the supporters who cheered him at the Coliseo Podestá theater in La Plata.