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Argentina: Governor election losers put ballot boxes to the flame

OPPOSITION supporters rioted in Argentina on Monday after losing a gubernatorial election to the left-wing ruling Front for Victory (FPV) party.

The losers stole and burnt ballot boxes in northern Tucuman province after FPV candidate Juan Manzur won by a landslide.

Mr Manzur, a former health minister under President Cristina Kirchner, romped home with 54 per cent of the vote.

The opposition coalition candidate Jose Cano came second on about 40 per cent.

About 20 rioters were injured in clashes with police in the main square of San Miguel de Tucuman, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Right-wing Republican Proposal party leader Mauricio Macri claimed fraud in the election.

But FPV national presidential candidate Daniel Scioli dismissed the accusation as sour grapes from the losers.

Mr Scioli’s vice-presidential running partner Carlos Zannini said that opposition leaders had “ordered the ballot boxes torched. One person has been detained and he is from the opposition front Agreement for the Bicentennial.”

“They are alleging fraud simply because they don’t want to accept the wide victory of Manzur,” Mr Zannini continued.

“They’ve been planning this action since before Sunday’s elections.

“The whole opposition unity was unable to defeat the FPV and now they intend to stain the electoral process.”

Incumbent Tucuman Governor Jose Alpevorich said that the voting process was transparent, but called for a complementary vote at the 40 polling stations where opposition thugs burnt ballot boxes.

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