Economist, Milei is characterized as an anti-establishment candidate in a country shaken by a severe economic crisis, where inflation reached 142.7% in the 12 months ending in October. He promises to dollarize the economy and abolish the Argentine Central Bank to end inflation, but has softened other initially made promises, vowing not to privatize the country’s healthcare and public schools.
Rising to fame as an economic commentator on television programs, Milei describes himself as a dog lover and, according to Argentine media, has several clones of a dog that lived from 2004 to 2017. Although he allied with traditional right-wing politicians in the second round, such as former president Mauricio Macri and defeated candidate Patricia Bullrich, the winning candidate attracted votes primarily from younger people by positioning himself against traditional politicians, whom he calls “the caste.”
During the campaign, Milei was compared to politicians like former U.S. President Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The future Argentine president defines himself as a libertarian and anarcho-capitalist and has declared himself a proponent of ideas such as the commercialization of organs and the free sale of firearms. During the second round, he criticized Pope Francis, whom he called a communist.
Milei does not see himself merely as a right-wing politician but also as a cultural warrior with the mission of shaking Argentine society. Some of Milei’s positions seem to echo the more conservative Republicans in the U.S., while his fiery rhetoric, laden with profanity, has already elevated him to prominence in the global culture war that sometimes overwhelms political discourse in the U.S., neighboring Brazil, and elsewhere.
He opposes feminist policies and abortion, which Argentina legalized in recent years, and proposed a plebiscite to revoke the law. He also rejects the notion that humans have a role in causing climate change.
In line with Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again,” Milei said he will return Argentina to an indefinite period of greatness.
“Argentina will regain its place in the world that it should never have lost,” Milei said at his victory rally on Sunday. His supporters have adopted the comparison and often wear hats that say “Make Argentina Great Again.”
Let’s see!
Source: Agência Brasil and AP