Just as several Latin American nations have chosen leftist leaders in a bid to redirect their fortunes, Argentina has taken the opposite approach, last weekend electing as their next president far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei who has promised major changes to halt the country’s failing economy.
Milei is a broadcaster and political outsider who wants to replace Argentina’s currency with the U.S. dollar, abolish the central bank, slash government spending, privatize the state-run energy company, loosen gun laws, and permit the sale of human organs.
His victory is seen as a protest vote against the political establishment. Poverty is rising in Argentina with inflation running 140 percent in 2023 and the country virtually bankrupt. Milei’s message promising radical change from decades of big and highly centralized government hit a nerve with voters, who decided to take a chance on the maverick candidate instead of former finance minister Sergio Massa. In the end, the vote was a comfortable 56-44 percent in Melei’s favor.
Milei is often compared to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who celebrated the outsider’s victory by commenting that he was “proud” of Milei, whom he said will “make Argentina great again.” Former right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro shared a video call with Milei, telling him that his victory “extends beyond Argentina” and “represents a lot to us democrats who love freedom.”
The reaction in Mexico in government circles was far more muted. “We congratulate the Argentine people for their civic participation in the elections, as well as the winning candidate, Javier Milei, with whom we will seek to maintain a constructive relationship for the benefit of both peoples and the region,” read an official communique from the Foreign Ministry.
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