Milei's surprise victory in Argentina: a turning point for the country?

Milei's surprise victory in Argentina: a turning point for the country?

In Argentina, the political waves have risen following the midterm elections for Congress. President Javier Milei and his party “La Libertad Avanza” performed surprisingly well, receiving almost 40 percent of the vote. Milei, who sees himself as a representative of the new political order, has clearly left the existing left-wing opposition, which achieved almost 32 percent, behind. Despite compulsory voting, turnout was a respectable 68 percent. This election is seen as a test of sentiment for his presidency and was a historic day for many, as Milei himself emphasized and announced that he wants to continue his reform agenda undeterred, as Antenne Unna reports.

Argentina's political landscape has changed dramatically. In these elections, half of the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the Senate were replaced. So far, Milei only had a small group of representatives behind him and ruled largely by decree. But the election result could give him and his allies a third of the seats in Congress, which would allow him to defend his presidential veto on parliamentary decisions. This could significantly change the balance of political power.

Milei's radical approaches

Many see Milei as an anarcho-capitalist who wants to tear down the old political order. His party's rhetoric refers to the existing elite as “the caste,” which is responsible for decades of mismanagement and “theft.” Milei rose from popular television commentator to president in 2023 and is often referred to as the "Trump of the Pampas" for his radical views - a title that underscores his polarizing impact, according to TRT World.

But the reality looks less rosy. Despite his recent successes, Milei's promises to voters are increasingly being questioned. The current economic situation is tense: the inflation rate is over 30 percent, and Argentina has high unemployment and immense foreign debt of over 300 billion US dollars. Industrial production suffers from low competitiveness and the flood of cheap imports. The monetary aid from the USA, which is linked to Milei's election victory, also represents a heavily burdensome factor for his government.

Corrupt shadows

Milei's political career is also hit by corruption scandals that threaten his credibility. It recently came to light that his sister Karina Milei may be involved in a bribery scandal involving medical orders. This is not only seen as an attack on his person, but also increases the anger of many Argentines about possible enrichment of his government. Miles' political opponents mercilessly exploit these scandals to portray him as part of the system he so vehemently criticized.

The upcoming 2027 elections could already be influenced by Milei's weakening approval ratings and increasing protests among the population. Over 40 percent of citizens now live in poverty, causing many, especially young people, to look for alternatives. The political divide in the country is strong: a third of voters support Peronism, another third reject it, and a third have turned away from politics. This shows the insecurity and dissatisfaction in Argentine society.

Javier Milei's political future is therefore anything but certain, despite his success in the congressional elections. The challenges, particularly with regard to corruption and economic stability, are enormous. The coming period will show whether he can overcome these hurdles or whether he will soon go down in history as “the president who didn't keep his promises.”