One day after his election victory, Argentina’s future President Milei announced the first privatizations – including that of public broadcasting. But it won’t be that easy.
In the runoff election on Sunday, 53-year-old political newcomer Javier Milei received 55.6 percent of the vote. He was surprisingly clearly ahead of his competitor, the current Minister of Economic Affairs Sergio Massa. Thousands of Milei’s supporters celebrated the election victory in the streets of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. “Today the reconstruction of Argentina begins. Today the end of the decline begins,” Milei said in his victory speech at his campaign headquarters in Buenos Aires.
“We will apply the model of freedom to become a world power again,” announced the ultra-liberal economist and self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist. The 53-year-old named “inflation, stagnation, the lack of real jobs, insecurity, poverty and misery” as future challenges for his government. The problems could only be solved if “we again embrace the ideas of freedom.”
Privatization of public broadcasting and State-owned enterprises
As a first measure, Milei announced the privatization of state-owned companies and public broadcasting. “Everything that can be in the hands of the private sector will be in the hands of the private sector,” the politician told an Argentine radio station. Among other things, he wants to privatize the state energy company YPF, public television and radio and the official news agency Télam.
Milei will officially take office as Argentine president on December 10th, a four-year term. He will take over the post from the center-left head of state Alberto Fernández, who has been in office since 2019.
Election campaign on social networks
Milei caused a stir during the election campaign, especially with populist slogans. The 53-year-old with wild hair and striking sideburns declared that he wanted to abolish the central bank, cut public spending “with a chainsaw” and replace the Argentine peso with the dollar. Argentina’s newly elected president is also against abortion and sex education and denies man-made climate change.
Milei conducted a large part of his election campaign on social networks and also reached the young electorate with his topics. Voter turnout in the runoff election was 76 percent. Milei’s competitor Massa ran for the center-left government camp that has dominated Argentine politics for decades. In the first round of voting almost a month ago, he was still seven percentage points ahead of Milei.
Argentina’s newly elected President Milei is against abortion, sex education and denies man-made climate change.
Congratulations and a demand for an apology
The left-wing president of Argentina’s neighboring country Brazil, Lula Inácio Lula da Silva, wished the new Argentine government “good luck and success” on the online service X (formerly Twitter). Lula da Silva did not mention Milei by name. This could be because he had been called an “angry communist” in the past. Brazil’s Minister of Social Communications, Paulo Pimenta, called on Milei to apologize to Lula da Silva. Afterwards we will think about joint discussions.
Congratulations also came from the neighboring countries of Chile and Paraguay. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also congratulated Milei on his election victory and expressed his satisfaction with the “high voter turnout.” Washington will work with Milei’s government on “common priorities.”
EU Council President Charles Michel wrote in the online service
Applause from Trump, Bolsonaro and Musk
The election victory was also applauded by the former right-wing populist presidents of Brazil and the USA, Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump, with whom Milei was repeatedly compared. “I’m proud of you,” Trump wrote on his online network Truth Social and added: “You will change your country and make Argentina a great country again.”
Bolsonaro said Milei’s victory would bring hope back to South America. Elon Musk, entrepreneur and owner of the social network X, tweeted: “Prosperity is coming to Argentina.”
Milei lacks a majority in parliament
According to most experts, it is completely unclear how the new Argentine president will behave after his election victory. Most of his campaign promises appear to be unrealistic because Milei lacks the majority in parliament necessary to implement them.
Argentina is facing enormous challenges: Latin America’s third-largest economy is in the worst economic crisis in decades, annual inflation is currently at 143 percent, and more than a third of the almost 47 million people live below the poverty line.
Özdemir warns of consequences for Trade agreement
In a statement, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed hopes for good cooperation with the new government. “We look forward to working closely with him and his government to develop and implement a strong plan to protect macroeconomic stability and strengthen inclusive growth for all Argentines,” said IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir warned of the consequences for the planned EU trade agreement with the Mercosur states. “The environment is becoming more difficult,” said Özdemir on the sidelines of a meeting of agriculture ministers in Brussels. Populism is rising in Latin America as well as in Europe. The Argentina election shows “that we have to hurry,” Özdemir continued. “If we as the European Union don’t take care of Brazil, the Mercosur states, the rainforest there, then others will do it, with a different agenda,” he emphasized.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also urged action. The Europeans, together with Argentina, wanted to “achieve positive results for our societies,” explained the Spaniard. To achieve this, the negotiations on the Mercosur agreement must be “concluded as quickly as possible,” he demanded.