Presidential elections [1] held in Argentina on October 23, 2011, resulted in a sweeping victory for current President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner [2], according to preliminary results. [3] (See Global Voices’ post [4] on the primary elections [5] held in August to determine the candidates for public office).
Exit poll results began to emerge when the polls closed at 6:00pm, although these results were not official. At 9:00pm a website [3] with official results went live. At the time of writing this port, the current President is leading by a landslide victory of 53%, followed by Dr. Hermes Binner [6], the candidate of the Progressive Broad Front [7] (Frente Amplio Progresista), with 17%.
On Twitter, which was widely used by candidates and citizens during the campaign, several related trending topics emerged. One hashtag that became a local trending topic was #cristinazo, [8] alluding to the number of votes favoring the President.
@TwGobierno writes [10] [es]:
Hay censura en Twitter, #cristinazo [11] tiene mas Tweets que #binnerazo [12] y no es TT… #twittercensura [13] (difundir cumpas)
Daniela (@DaniK_dorada) celebrates [14] [es]:
Llora llora llora la derecha xk los pibes tamos de fiesta! #cristinazo [11]#plazademayo [15]
The hashtag #yonolavote [16] (“I didn't vote for her), used by those who didn't cast their vote for Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, also became a local Trending Topic.
Daiana Varetti (day_varetti) comments [17] [es]:
que raro que el 1er TT sea #yonolavote [18] y gano cn el 52 % de los votos.. yo tengo mi conciencia limpia y digo verdaderamente que #yonolavote [18]
Cintia V Rojas (@CintiaVRojas) says [19] [es]:
que bueno q #yonolavote [18] sea tt porq significa q todavia qda gente cuerda!!!
Other local Twitter Trending Topics were #Vicepresidente [20] (“Vice president) and #hablacristina [21] (“Cristina speaks”).
The main opposition force in these elections also got their Trending Topic. Netizens used #binnerazo [22] to refer to Hermes Binner, who in a few months of presidential campaigning managed to become the second largest political force in the country, although far from the first.
Javier Alejandro (@Jmaitre) offers encouraging words to Binner followers [24] [es]:
Vamos el socialismo, va creciendo en todo el pais #Binnerazo [25]
While Mariana Calvo (@maariC) shows her disappointment [26] [es]:
yo no estoy contenta tendria que haber ganado binner #binnerazo [12]
Final results will be announced during the week, although the trend shown in preliminary results is not expected to change. Nevertheless, Aldana Formigo [27] (@AldanaFormigo) [es] reflects the thoughts of many Argentinians:
Muy feliz de ser participe de está democracia! #Cristinazo [28]