The electoral race came to an end and left surprises, anecdotes and also a lot of money along the way. According to official records of campaign contributions, La Libertad Avanza, by Javier Milei, raised $199,656,613 nationwide, and Unión Por la Patria by Sergio Massa raised $377,125,175.
Lion. The companies that contributed the most to Milei’s campaign are all in the same place: Florida 537, in the center of Buenos Aires. They are Franquimar SA, Smart Commerce SA and Dulkord Company, and together they total 96 million pesos. They sell computer equipment, technology and computers for gamers. None of these companies have a consolidated name in the field, but they do not lack money. The three companies with a common address and names that are repeated in their directories only contributed in the PASO stage, that is, they are followers of the libertarian leader’s first hour.
For this stage of the ballot, a new contributor appeared. None other than Paolo Rocca, the CEO of the Techint Group. Through the construction company Inurban, Rocca registered a contribution of 20 million pesos on Monday, November 13, almost on the eve of the elections. Fresh money for inspection. In his Milanese youth, Rocca was a member of the left-wing Lotta Continua party. What will his old militant colleagues say about this support for a liberal? He may explain it as business pragmatism.
The largest individual contributor – a natural person – to Milei was Sebastián Braun, from the family that owns Supermercados La Anónima and the land where the La Huella parador is located in Punta del Este. The second was that of the consultant Fernando Cerimedo, known for naturalizing the use of trolls in digital campaigns, who works for Milei and made contributions of 28 million pesos. All contributions were made after the PASO, between August 23 and 31.
In Milei’s troop, two individuals stand out for the trust placed in them: Carlos Kikuchi, the campaign manager of the libertarian leader, and Nicolás Posse, a friend who plays the role of coordinator of the technical teams and who, as already announced by Milei himself on Marcelo Longobardi’s radio program, he will be the Chief of Staff if he wins the election. Both, each with their distinctive approach, dedicated themselves to the task of obtaining the necessary financial resources to support the tours, posters, surveys, consultants and all the services required in the electoral context, ranging from setting up scenarios to printing pamphlets.
In December 2022, Posse founded the civil association Institute for Growth, which operates as a think tank that supplies equipment for an eventual Milei government. This entity also serves as a fundraising mechanism, channeling contributions intended to support the libertarian leader.
Tiger. Massa’s presidential campaign received contributions from businessmen linked to Customs, logistics and football.
The director of Customs, Guillermo Michel, and the vice chief of staff, Juan Manuel Olmos, were the main representatives of the collection. The Chamber of Private Fiscal Warehouses, an entity that represents customs operators, contributed 19.5 million pesos. Juan Pablo Damonte, a Customs broker, contributed 15 million.
The largest contributor was the logistics company Sixtar Courier, owned by Fernanda Kolln and Matías Yanguas, according to the Official Gazette, with 20 million pesos. This company had contributed 5 million for the PASO, but for the runoff it tripled the bet and added another 15 million.
The most important individual contributor was Rodolfo Serrano, owner of the logistics company Fleet Group, based in El Talar, Tigre district. Serrano contributed 20 million.
Chinese citizen Hang Lin, owner of the De Once linen products wholesale company, contributed 15 million.
Businessman Francisco de Narváez, owner of the Chango Más supermarket chain, contributed 10 million. In the Unión por la Patria bunker it is stated that De Narváez would also have collaborated with the hiring of the Brazilian consulting firm that joined the campaign team to reinforce the digital strategy and also work on the debate. The Brazilians are credited with having been the promoters of Massa asking Milei “yes or no” questions. The businessman José Luis Manzano, a friend of Massa, would also have collaborated with the hiring of the Brazilian team.
Among the officials who contributed the most is Matías Lammens with 200 thousand pesos, and he is followed by the Secretary of Energy, Flavia Royón, and the president of Banco Nación, Silvina Batakis, with 150 thousand each. Then, in the range of 100 thousand pesos, there are the Ministers of the Interior, Eduardo “Wado” De Pedro, of Justice, Martín Soria, of Social Development, Victoria Tolosa Paz, and of Defense, Jorge Taiana. There are also the chancellor Santiago Cafiero, the secretary of Commerce, Matías Tombolini, the president of Radio and Television Argentina, Rosario Lufrano, the director of Customs, Guillermo Michel, the vice chief of staff, Juan Manuel Olmos, the secretary of Human Rights, Horacio Pietragalla, the Undersecretary of Justice, Juan Martín Mena, the Chief of Advisors, Mercedes Marcó del Pont, and the Secretary of Climate Change, Cecilia Nicolini. Everyone put money or, at least, their name.
A little further down the list appears another high-profile businessman: Gustavo Grobocopatel, with a timid contribution of 50 thousand pesos. Clear proof that the drought caused by the La Niña phenomenon wreaked havoc.
At the close of this edition, the campaign contributions for the second round of elections were still being uploaded on the website ventas.electoral.gob.ar and the same will continue to happen in the following days, but only as a form of accountability. The money has already been used.
