Movimiento Popular Fueguino will reach November 15 with an open contest in Ushuaia after internal differences prevented a unity list. Vice Governor Mónica Urquiza will lead Siempre 54 against Fernando Oyarzún, a FORJA councilor heading Avancemos al Futuro. Río Grande and Tolhuin settled their leadership through single lists.
The party's electoral board rejected cross-challenges and certified both candidacies. That prevents an administrative resolution and sends the dispute to members. The vote will affect not only local leadership but also the 17-member party convention, with eight delegates from Ushuaia, eight from Río Grande and one from Tolhuin.
Mónica Urquiza is a sensitive figure because she combines party leadership with her institutional role as vice governor. Her list includes provincial officials and historic MOPOF figures, including tourism and ports. That gives structure but also exposes the list to evaluation of government areas that have faced controversy.
Fernando Oyarzún represents a sector linked to FORJA, Gustavo Melella's party. Although he competes inside MOPOF, that political reference makes the governor's influence a central question in a party that once helped bring him to power and later experienced tensions.
The internal election is therefore about identity. MOPOF must decide whether to emphasize provincial autonomy or maintain a functional relationship with Melella. The choice will affect alliances, candidacies and legislative bargaining ahead of 2027.
The cross-challenges also reveal distrust that may complicate coexistence afterward. The electoral board moved the conflict to the ballot box, but the day after matters just as much. The winner will need to integrate the losing faction to prevent further splits.
Ushuaia's weight in the convention makes the contest strategic. Eight delegates can shape decisions on leadership, alliances and internal rules. Member participation, voter rolls, monitoring and counting will be essential for legitimacy.
The next step is the November 15 vote and the final convention balance. Mónica Urquiza will try to show she can lead the party without diluting its identity; Oyarzún will seek to prove an alternative linked to the government. MOPOF's real challenge is leaving the contest with recognized leadership and a clear 2027 strategy.
