Argentina votes in election rocked by radical candidate
Mr. Milei is a vocal right-wing economist known for his confrontational communication style and strong social media presence, particularly appealing to younger voters.
His victory in the primary election has put significant pressure on his two main opponents.
This election occurs in the midst of a severe economic crisis in Argentina. The country, which boasts Latin America's third-largest economy, is grappling with triple-digit inflation and a devalued currency, pushing 40% of its population below the poverty line. Argentina also retains the unenviable distinction of being the world's largest debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a debt of $46 billion (£38 billion).
Historically, elections in Argentina have been dominated by the left-wing Peronist movement, whose candidate is the current Minister of the Economy, Sergio Massa, and its center-right opposition, represented by former Security Minister Patricia Bullrich. However, Mr. Milei managed to surpass both Ms. Bullrich and Mr. Massa in the primary and has maintained a lead in the polls.
Mr. Milei has drawn criticism from his opponents, particularly Mr. Massa and Ms. Bullrich, due to his strong aversion to "communists" and even Pope Francis. His proposed solution to reduce inflation involves dismantling Argentina's central bank, discarding the Argentine peso (which he disparages as "excrement"), and adopting the US dollar as the national currency. He has used campaign rallies to promote this idea, often brandishing giant replica dollar bills. Additionally, he has used a chainsaw as a symbol of his intent to cut what he sees as an excessively bloated government bureaucracy serving a "parasitic political class." He has pledged to reduce the size of government by closing ministries related to sports, culture, and women, and merging the health and education portfolios.
On the other hand, Mr. Massa, aged 51, has aimed to defend the social and labor credentials of the Peronist movement. He attributes austerity measures passed by his government to the IMF debt accumulated during the previous center-right administration.
Ms. Bullrich, aged 67, has proposed a dual currency system that combines both the peso and the dollar in the economy, aiming to unify the exchange rate and relax restrictions on the dollar. She has portrayed herself as a strong figure in dealing with crime and has been referred to as Argentina's "Iron Lady" by some. She has promised to restore "order" to the country, particularly following a wave of mass looting of shops in August and an increase in drug-trafficking violence in certain cities. She has also criticized Mr. Milei's "emotional instability" and challenged Mr. Massa to explain how he can be the best president despite having served as the worst economy minister.
Polls indicate that a runoff election on November 19 is likely, as it is improbable for a candidate to secure more than 45% of the votes or 40% with a 10-percentage point margin over the nearest rival in the first round. With five candidates in the race, this outcome is further expected.
In addition to choosing a new president and vice-president for a four-year term, Argentine voters will also elect 130 new representatives for the lower house of Congress, which has 257 members, and 24 new senators for the 72-member upper house.
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