Rogelio Frigerio seeks to eliminate Entre Ríos primary elections amid intra‑party rifts

Governor Rogelio Frigerio of Argentina’s Entre Ríos province is preparing to abolish the province’s open, simultaneous and mandatory primary elections (PASO) ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. Sources close to the governor say a decision could be taken between the end of the year and mid‑February, allowing a direct general election and effectively bypassing the primary stage that has been in place since 2011. Frigerio, a close ally of the national government, has previously introduced a unified paper ballot and built a coalition with Libertad Avanza that swept the 2025 provincial vote.

At the same time, speculation is growing about a secret pact between Governor Hugo Passalacqua and legislator Carlos Eduardo Rovira to polarize the 2027 elections and curb opposition forces. The alleged maneuver, described as a tightly scripted political script, has heightened tensions within the provincial ruling party, with limited public commentary from other officials. Both developments reflect deepening internal conflicts as the province prepares for the next electoral round.