by Brandon Goldman @realbgold
Argentina just held its presidential election, and the people chose right-wing populist Javier Milei over the left-leaning Sergio Massa. This was a decisive victory for the Argentine right, which took 20 of 23 provinces and 56% of the vote.
Argentinians have been growing angry with the center-left governance of the country under current president Alberto Fernández, especially considering the nation’s annual inflation rate of 140%. Given these circumstances, Massa, the current Minister of Economy, was an easy target for attack.
Former US president Donald Trump congratulated Milei—who has earned the nickname the “Donald Trump of Argentina”—on his victory. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said, “Congratulations to Javier Milei on a great race for President of Argentina. The whole world was watching! I am very proud of you. You will turn your Country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again!”
Unlike Donald Trump, however, Javier Milei is a former economist and university professor. He is a proponent of the Austrian school of economics, often associated with the loosening of government intervention in the private market.
The Path of Javier Milei
In the 2010s, Milei began developing his public persona by appearing on television news programs, where he became known for his boisterousness and tendency to insult his opponents.
In 2020, Milei launched his campaign for the Chamber of Deputies, the Argentine version of the US House of Representatives. He ran with the Avanza Libertad, a coalition of center-right and right-wing parties that lean more libertarian in their policy priorities.
Supporters of Milei can often be seen in crowds waving the Argentinian flag, along with the Gadsden flag. The Gadsden flag was a major symbol of the American Revolution, showcasing a snake on a yellow background with the words “Don’t Tread on Me.”
Milei’s Policy Positions
Milei ran a campaign based primarily on economic issues with a strong secondary focus on cultural issues. He opposes abortion, supports loosened labor laws, and even called the Pope an “imbecile” for his support of social justice policies–a surprising statement to make in an overwhelmingly Catholic country.
The president-elect is also a strong opponent of a central bank and believes that bitcoin could play an important role in improving the Argentine economy. Argentine crude oil and bank stocks have rallied since Milei’s election.
Milei has also talked about giving up the peso in exchange for the US dollar as the official form of Argentine currency. This move would be difficult for a country the size of Argentina, but it has been accomplished before by Panama and Ecuador.
On the foreign policy side, Milei is a supporter of the United States and Israel, and has emphasized his desire to moderate ties with China and Brazil. Milei has also spoken about pulling Argentina out of Mescour, a South American free-trade bloc. This echoes the desire of some American politicians to pull out of free trade agreements such as NAFTA and TPP, based on the premise that such agreements kill jobs at home in the pursuit of cheaper goods and services.
Javier Milei will serve his presidential term until 2027, with the option to run for re-election. American Daily Press will continue to follow President-Elect Milei’s historic presidency.