Argentina's Macri suffers defeat in presidential primaries

President Mauricio Macri suffered a crushing defeat as Argentinians voted in party primaries on Sunday ahead of October's general election.

Given that all of the recession-hit South American country's major parties have already chosen their presidential candidates, the primaries effectively served as a nationwide pre-election opinion poll.

Center-left nominee, Alberto Fernandez, led by around 15 points after partial results were revealed, as center-right pro-business Macri admitted, it had been "a bad election."

The first round of the presidential election will be held on October 27th, with a run-off, if needed, set for November 24th.

With 87 percent of polling station results counted, Fernandez had polled 47.5 per cent with Macri on a little more than 32 percent and centrist former Finance Minister, Roberto Lavagna, a distant third on just 8.3 percent.

"For those who didn't vote for me, I promise to work hard so they understand me," said Fernandez to thousands of cheering supporters in Buenos Aires.

"We're going to begin a new stage. We always fix the problems that others create."

Macri had been hoping to earn a second mandate, but his chances appear all but over.

If Fernandez was to register the same result in October, he would be president as Argentina's electoral law requires a candidate to gain 45 per cent for outright victory, or 40 per cent and a lead of at least 10 points over the nearest challenger.

MG