The most voted Kirchnerist candidate in the elections confessed that he would not take office.

One day after the victory of the Kirchnerist front Fuerza Patria in the Buenos Aires legislative elections, another Peronist mayor acknowledged that his candidacy was merely testimonial.

Leonardo Nardini, Kirchnerist mayor of Malvinas Argentinas and the first elected councilor in his district, confirmed that he will not take the seat he won in the provincial elections. He clarified that his inclusion on the list had the sole purpose of "supporting the administration."

In an interview with TN, the leader was asked whether he would take office. "No, obviously not," he replied without hesitation. He then justified his decision by pointing out that his candidacy replied to a political strategy: "We work every day. In the 2023 election, we obtained 60% of the votes. The election ended and it's not that I hide or am absent. I am in constant contact, solving problems, meeting with residents. We explained to people that our candidacy defended the administration in Malvinas Argentinas, which, like other districts, is being undermined by the government."

Nardini was the mayor with the highest electoral support in the entire province. He led Fuerza Patria's councilor list in Malvinas Argentinas, corresponding to the first electoral section. He obtained more than 68% of the votes and was almost 46 points ahead of his opponent.

When asked about the meaning of testimonial candidacies, the Kirchnerist leader denied that there is a doctrine behind this practice. He avoided giving a concrete answer to the criticism for not occupying the position for which he was elected and instead justified it.

"There are a lot of national legislators whom people have voted for and don't even know who they are. There is a congresswoman who gives her opinion on how to solve the country, but she lives in Malvinas and nobody knows her," he stated. When it was pointed out that those politicians, unlike him, do serve in their seats, the mayor chose not to elaborate on the subject.

Kirchnerist testimonial candidacies

In recent days, it has emerged that Verónica Magario, current Buenos Aires vice governor and elected provincial deputy for the third electoral section, will also not take her seat. The same will happen with Gabriel Katopodis, Minister of Infrastructure and elected provincial senator for the first section.

Nardini's case reproduces the strategy implemented by at least another 23 mayors, who joined the K lists with the aim of giving the election a territorial profile and protecting their municipalities. Among them are Mario Seco in Ensenada, Juan José Mussi in Berazategui, and Fabián Cagliardi in Berisso.

Although testimonial candidacies do not violate current regulations, the judiciary has pointed out that this practice represents an unacceptable manipulation of republican institutions. In its rulings, it warns that including influential leaders on ballots without a real intention to take office undermines public trust and distorts the true meaning of political representation.