In a surprise to many commentators, on 22 November
2015, the centre-right candidate Mauricio Macri won the second
round ballot for the Presidency of Argentina; beating the preferred
leftish successor of the incumbent Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
Mr Macri was elected on a largely pro-business platform with a
promise to balance the books and end Argentina's recent sense
of isolation. Given the current political turmoil in Brazil
fostered by the Petrobras corruption scandal, a shift in
Argentina's perspective may have complications for Mercosur
region (Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and
Venezuela).
Whatever the wider implications, it seems likely that Argentina
will seek to take steps to open its recently closed markets.
Significant challenges arise but it may mark the end of recent
isolationist and protectionist moves such as making arbitration
provisions subject to an automatic right of review by Argentine
courts. Immediate changes to the
