Axel Kicillof vs La Cámpora: Peronist split ahead of 2027 election

Internal tensions within Argentina’s Peronist movement have intensified as Governor Axel Kicillof of Buenos Aires seeks to distance himself from former President Cristina Kirchner. La Cámpora, led by Máximo Kirchner, accuses Kicillof of abandoning the kirchnerist line and demands that Cristina Kirchner remain the movement’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

The dispute has spilled into public rallies and speeches, with Máximo Kirchner urging party members to back his mother and warning that the split could fragment the historic Peronist vote. Kicillof, meanwhile, is positioning himself as the main opposition to President Javier Milei, topping a recent poll that shows him ahead of both Milei and Kirchner.

Analysts warn that if the internal rift persists, the Justicialist Party may present separate candidate lists in 2027, weakening its ability to challenge Milei’s government. Calls for unity have been echoed by other Peronist figures, including La Rioja Governor Ricardo Quintela, who stresses the need for a single alternative platform.