Conservative Mauricio Macri has been confirmed as the winner in Argentina’s presidential elections after his ruling party opponent conceded. With almost all votes counted, Mr Macri led Daniel Scioli by 51.5% to 48.5%. Mr Macri’s victory is the first in more than a decade for Argentina’s centre-right opposition and ends the 12-year rule of the Peronist Party. His victory completes a turnaround for Mr Macri, who is currently mayor of Buenos Aires, after he lost in the first round of voting to Mr Scioli.

But Mr Scioli, who is the governor of Buenos Aires province, did not command enough of a lead to win the vote outright, forcing a run-off – the first in the country’s history. Economic reform will be Mr Macri’s number one priority but he gave little away in his victory speech.

Points to Note

• The son of one of Argentina’s richest men, Mr Macri had a long career in business before entering politics.
• In 1991, he was kidnapped and kept captive for 12 days by a gang of corrupt policemen demanding millions in ransom.
• Four years later, he became president of Boca Juniors Football Club and used his success at the club as a springboard for his political career.