Buenos Aires UCR resolves nine local contests after provincial unity

The Radical Civic Union (UCR) in Buenos Aires province has achieved provincial unity, but internal divisions surfaced as nine local districts held contentious internal elections.

Supporters of Senator Maximiliano Abad emerged victorious in General Pueyrredón, Luján, Morón, Mercedes, and Bahía Blanca. Meanwhile, lists aligned with Deputy Martín Lousteau's faction, known as Evolución, won in Tres Arroyos, Bragado, and Villa Gesell. The election in Lincoln was particularly notable, with a contest between siblings, where the incumbent mayor Salvador Serenal's sector prevailed over his sister Marisa Serenal's representation.

Following the provincial agreement, Emiliano Balbín, a provincial deputy and grandson of the historic UCR leader Ricardo Balbín, was installed as the provincial party leader. He belongs to Abad's faction. Josefina Mendoza, representing Lousteau's Evolución wing, will serve as vice president, symbolizing a degree of power-sharing within the unified provincial leadership.

Detailed results highlighted key contests. In General Pueyrredón, Abad's aligned list led by Ricardo Liceaga Viñas secured 4060 votes against Jimena Nespral's 1833. Tres Arroyos saw Evolución candidate Romina Trujillo win by a narrow margin of 135 votes to 102. The Lincoln race, between Salvador Serenal's supported list led by Valeria Mena and Marisa Serenal's list led by Matías Gázquez, concluded with 172 votes for the mayor's sector and 147 for his sister's.

Other results included Bragado favoring Evolución's Lilian Labaqui (323 votes) over Abad's nominee (201). Luján's radical committee went to Andrés Saavedra's list, aligned with Abad, with 453 votes to 370. Morón's winning list was an amalgamation of Abadists and some Evolución members. Mercedes saw Marisa Brillado of Abad's sector win, and Villa Gesell's committee reported a victory for Lousteau's faction.