Javier Milei, a volatile far-right libertarian who has vowed to “exterminate” inflation and take a chainsaw to the state, has been elected president of Argentina, catapulting South America’s second largest economy into an unpredictable and potentially turbulent future.
With over 99% of the ballots tallied, the politician, known for his Mick Jagger impersonation and transition from TV celebrity to politics, often drawing comparisons to Donald Trump, has secured 55.69% of the vote. In contrast, his rival, the center-left finance minister Sergio Massa, garnered 44.3%.
Javier Milei, the newly elected president of Argentina, delivered an address to his enthusiastic supporters at his campaign headquarters in Buenos Aires after clinching victory. Describing the moment as a “miracle,” Milei declared the commencement of Argentina’s reconstruction and deemed the night historic for the nation. inflation and take
Milei pledged to implement “drastic changes” to address Argentina’s dire issues of surging inflation and widespread poverty. He conveyed a message to the global community, asserting that Argentina would reclaim its rightful position in the world.
After receiving 11.5 million votes compared to Milei’s 14.4 million, Massa gracefully conceded defeat. Expressing acceptance of the election outcome, Massa acknowledged that Argentinians had opted for a different trajectory. He called Milei to extend congratulations, announcing his retirement from frontline politics.
Despite the disappointment in the election results, Massa acknowledged the majority’s choice and commended Milei as the president elected by the people for the next four years. The Peronist movement, to which Massa belongs, had governed Argentina for 16 of the last 20 years.
Supporters of Milei, seen as an economic visionary, celebrated the victory of their 53-year-old leader. They believe he is poised to guide Argentina out of one of its most challenging economic crises in decades.