This Sunday, residents of six communes in Mendoza will participate in elections for their local legislative councils, with particular attention on voter turnout given the summer recess and imminent school year. The communes involved include Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, San Rafael, La Paz, Rivadavia, and Santa Rosa, and each will be renewing half of their local legislative seats. The timing of the election is significant as it is outside of the broader provincial and national election schedule, which is a strategic move by local leaders to increase their chances of retaining control.

The majority of these communes are currently governed by opposition leaders to the provincial administration led by radical Alfredo Cornejo, who is allied with Javier Milei's La Libertad Avanza party. This local election is seen as a critical opportunity for these community leaders to consolidate power independently of the provincial dynamics, having opted to hold the elections separately from the national legislative elections set for October 26. This should allow them to engage more directly with their constituents without the broader political context overshadowing their campaigns.

Luján de Cuyo, a prosperous commune led by Esteban Allasino, showcases the strategic political maneuvers at play. Allasino, who has historical ties to the PRO party and is seen as an ally of Omar De Marchi, forged an agreement with Cornejo and Milei’s party, which highlights the complex interplay of local and provincial politics. The decision to stagger the elections was primarily driven by the desire to strengthen their positions in their respective areas, indicating a tactical move to navigate through the political landscape effectively, especially during this period of political transition in Argentina.