Argentine voters punish Peronists in midterm vote

Voters in Argentina have dealt a severe blow to the ruling Peronist Party in midterm elections

According to preliminary results, the centre-left party of President Albert Fernandez is on track to lose its majority in congress after almost 40 years.

With most of national votes tallied on Sunday, the conservative opposition Juntos held strong leads in key swing senate races

This is a development that would see it erase the ruling party’s majority and hobble Fernandez’s ability to push through legislation without opposition support.

Juntos was also ahead in races for lower-house seats, including an important battle in the populous province of Buenos Aires, usually a stronghold for the Peronists.

The results are seen as a punishment vote against the Fernandez government amid spiralling inflation and growing poverty.