Alejandro Giammattei will succeed corruption-tainted outgoing President Jimmy Morales, who leaves office in January.
With returns from 20 percent of polling stations counted, the preliminary results from the electoral tribunal gave centre-left candidate Sandra Torres 23.33 percent of the vote.
With 19 candidates in the race for president, and the winner needing an absolute majority, a runoff vote is likely in August.
In a country that produces enough food to feed 10 times its population, around eight percent of Argentinians can hardly afford one meal per day.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for all latest in-depth, on the ground reporting from around the world.
Copyright © 2022 TRT World.