Argentina’s presidential elections on November 19 ended in a landslide victory for far-right candidate Javier Milei, with 55.7% of the vote. This surprise marks a massive rejection of the Peronist government and the dominant political class, against a backdrop of acute economic crisis. Milei’s radical ideas appealed to a section of the population, while concerns persist about the implementation of his program.
Argentina’s pollsters, who had predicted a close second round, were wrong. Javier Milei, the far-right presidential candidate, won a landslide victory with 55.7% of the vote on Sunday, November 19, over Sergio Massa, the Peronist candidate and outgoing economy minister. “This is a historic night for Argentina”, said the new president.
This landslide victory is interpreted as an unequivocal rejection of the Peronist government and, more broadly, of the political class that has dominated power in recent years. Against the backdrop of a persistent economic crisis, marked by 143% inflation, successive devaluations and the constant threat of default, Argentines opted for a resolutely new political path.
“Gone is the impoverishing model of the caste, today we adopt the model of freedom, to once again become a world power”, commented the anti-system candidate.
Aged 53, Javier Milei appeared on the political scene two years ago as a Buenos Aires deputy. Having made a career as an economist, he was a frequent guest on television and was appreciated for his impassioned statements and on-camera tantrums. At his rallies, he frequently proclaimed, “I am the lion, I am the king.”
His entry into politics was supported by Sergio Massa himself, whose entourage financed his party, La Liberté Avance (LLA). Massa’s aim was to thwart the candidacy of Patricia Bullrich of former president Mauricio Macri’s right-wing party, who came third in the first round. Massa hoped that Javier Milei’s exuberance and provocations would prevent Mauricio Macri from supporting the Libertarian candidate. However, his maneuver backfired, as on the evening of the first round, Patricia Bullrich and Mauricio Macri threw their support behind Javier Milei, making possible the victory of the man who only a few months ago was regarded as a marginal and implausible candidate.
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