In Argentina's primary elections, the big winner was libertarian Javier Milei.

No poll anticipated that he would be the most voted pre-candidate, as it turned out: he received 30% of the votes.

His party, La Libertad Avanza, came first in 16 of Argentina's 24 provinces.

The second most voted candidate was Economy Minister Sergio Massa, of the ruling coalition Unión Por la Patria, with 21 percent of the vote.

In third place was former Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, with 16.75%, who won in the internal election of the opposition alliance Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change).

These and other candidates will compete in the general elections on 22 October.

If necessary, there will be a run-off election on 19 November between the two candidates with the most votes.

Celebrating the results in Buenos Aires, Milei declared: "it is the end of the caste", as he calls the traditional political leadership.

The 56-year-old economist has been compared to other far-right phenomena such as Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, Donald Trump in the US or the Vox party in Spain.

The  Libertad Avanza candidate generated controversy with his proposals to dollarise Argentina and eliminate the Central Bank.

He also expressed support for the free bearing of arms and said he was in favor of citizens having the freedom to sell their organs.

He also proposes to repeal abortion rights and other progressive laws implemented in recent years.

For his part, Massa called for unity to confront Milei on 22 October.

The Peronist hopeful assured: "there are 60 days to win against those who call for hate".

Of the more than 35 million eligible voters, less than 70 per cent turned out to vote, one of the lowest percentages since the return of democracy in 1983.