In a surprising turn of events, Argentina has elected far-right libertarian economist Javier Milei as its next president. Drawing comparisons to Donald J. Trump, Milei has promised radical changes, including slashing spending and taxes, replacing the national currency with the U.S. dollar, and banning abortion. His victory is seen as a shift to the right amid the country’s economic crisis. However, political analysts suggest that some voters may have chosen Milei out of desperation for change rather than full endorsement of his far-right ideology.
Milei’s election is considered a win for the global far-right movement, aligning with leaders like Trump and Jair Bolsonaro. Milei’s brash style, conspiracy theories, and pre-emptive fraud claims have raised concerns, with parallels to Trump’s tactics. Additionally, his downplaying of Argentina’s military dictatorship atrocities and warnings of election rigging have sparked broader concerns about the impact on the country’s democracy.
As Argentina faces one of its worst economic crises, Milei’s proposed solutions involve a drastic break from old policies, including “blowing up” the central bank and dollarizing the economy. Despite doubts from economists and political analysts about the feasibility of such radical changes, Milei’s victory signals a break from the Peronist rule that has dominated Argentine politics in recent years.
Milei’s inauguration is set for December 10, marking the 40th anniversary of the first democratically elected president following the fall of the military dictatorship. The election outcome reflects the electorate’s desperation for change in the face of economic turmoil, even as concerns linger about Milei’s eccentric personality and political stance.
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