The left becomes the third Argentine force 2:59

(CNN Spanish) -- The Left and Workers Unity Front (FIT) managed to overcome the limit of 1.5% of the votes in the primaries held in August, which allows it to participate in the general elections of October 22. The winning formula of the internal is integrated by Myriam Bregman and Nicolás Del Caño, candidates for president and vice president, respectively, who defeated Gabriel Solano and Vilma Ripoll in the PASO, obtaining 70% of the votes. The front reached fifth place in the presidential elections with 2.61% of the vote, behind the other four spaces that remain in the race to the Casa Rosada.

With these results, the left repeats its performance of the last elections. Since the creation of the PASO in 2009, it has never missed a presidential general election because it did not exceed the necessary floor of votes. That would be half the full glass.

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But there is a fate from which the left in Argentina has not been able to escape. It is an electoral offer that has not had roots in the Argentine electorate. For example, since the advent of democracy in 1983, after the last military dictatorship, no left-wing group has managed to stand on the podium in a presidential election.

Now, why does this happen?, why does the left not win enough votes to come to power or at least to dispute it?, can this trend change?

Peronism as an obstacle for the left

"There is a structural historical perspective and a conjuncture to understand the role of the left in the Argentine political process. From the historical point of view, the key is the irruption of Peronism, which became the party that represented the labor sector in the country, and that prevented representative leftist parties from emerging," says political analyst Lucas Romero. And he adds: "With respect to the conjuncture, the emergence of Kirchnerism generated a container reservoir for leftist tendencies, which again submerged the parties of that sector in residual expressions with little capacity to represent vast electoral sectors. Moreover, the left has always had a relationship of aspirational affection with Kirchnerism. It has never decided to make a difference to try to defend its ability to represent those sectors."

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Political analyst Shila Vilker agrees: "Argentina has Peronism to challenge its working class identity." And he goes deeper: "The left is a party of margin in the country." While, to explain the lack of competitiveness of this sector, Vilker points to a concept always present in leftist movements: fragmentation. "It is an offer that has always arrived hyperfragmented until it was ordered around the Left and Workers' Front that tended to nuclear the different expressions of the left. I think this is a phenomenon that affects as well."

Facing a new election

Most analysts agree that there are three frontrunners for the upcoming presidential election on Oct. 22. The results of the PASO showed a polarization of thirds between La Libertad Avanza, Juntos por el Cambio and Unión por la Patria. It does not seem to be the best scenario for the left to break its historical testimonial character.

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