Javier Milei, a far-right libertarian and a former television star has been elected President of Argentina, defeating Sergio Massa, a former Minister in the government of Alberto Fernandez who didn’t contest in the recent elections that were concluded on Sunday, November 20, 2023.
Milei, 53 is an economist with little political experience. He burst onto the traditionally closed Argentine political space with a style of embracing conspiracy theories and a series of extreme proposals that he says were needed to treat a broken economy and government.
According to the Argentina’s Electoral Authority, Milei won with 56% of the vote with 95% of the ballots counted, defeating Massa who got 44% of the votes.
The President elect pledged to cut spending and taxes, close Argentina’s Central Bank and replace the nation’s currency with the US dollar.
During campaigns, he proposed to ban abortion, loosen regulations on guns and be allies with countries that want to fight socialism.
In his victory speech to his jubilant supporters at his campaign headquarters in Buenos Aires, Milei attacked the political group that he says has enriched themselves at the expense of average Argentines.
“Today the reconstruction of Argentina begins. Today is a historic night for Argentina and a miracle,” Milei said.
Milei promised drastic changes to tackle Argentina’s tragic reality of soaring inflation and widespread poverty.
He also sent a message to the International community saying that Argentina will return to the place in the world which it should never have lost.
After his victory Milei was congratulated by billionaire Elon Musk, former President of Brazil-Jair Bolsonaro and former US President Donald Trump.
“I am very proud of you. You will turn your country around and truly make Argentina great again,” Trump said.
As Milei takes on a country that is in economic turbulence, many political analysts say that his ascendancy to the highest political office in Argentina reflects many Argentines’ desperation for change rather than support for his ideology.
