Far-right presidential candidate shockingly tops Argentina primaries
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Javier Milei takes a surprise lead in August's presidential primaries, securing 32% of the total vote.
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Argentine far-right libertarian economist and presidential candidate Javier Milei celebrates the results of the primary elections at his headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 13, 2023. (AFP)
Results from Sunday's primary election indicate that Argentines will have a choice to make in this year's presidential vote among three main contenders: Javier Milei, a far-right lawmaker, Patricia Bullrich from the center-right coalition, and Sergio Massa, the Economy Minister.
The impending October election occurs amid an economic crisis in the Latin American nation, marked by surging inflation and increasing poverty rates. Such circumstances have led to skepticism toward traditional politicians.
The electoral process in Argentina is distinct in the region, where citizens voted on Sunday to select their preferred candidate out of a pool of 22 contenders. In this round, "anti-establishment" figure Javier Milei secured the lead with approximately 32 percent of the votes, after 73 percent of the total votes counted.
Bullrich, aged 67, garnered roughly 28% of the vote, while 51-year-old lawyer and government minister Massa ranked third, receiving approximately 26%.
The incumbent President Alberto Fernandez, who has become deeply unpopular due to a staggering year-on-year inflation rate of 115 percent, soaring poverty rates, and the plummeting value of the peso, will not seek reelection.
To address the economic challenges and dwindling foreign reserves, the government has implemented stringent currency controls and increased import taxes on businesses to stabilize the dollar.
Discontent with the present center-left administration, represented by Massa and his Union por la Patria party, as well as the right-wing opposition coalition Juntos por El Cambio (Together for Change), led by Bullrich, has created an opportunity for other candidates to gain ground.
Among them is the libertarian Milei, who holds far-right views on both the cultural and economic aspects, as he has promised to "blow up" the political status quo, shut down the central bank, dollarize the economy, and massively shrink the state. He also admires former US President Donald Trump and Brazil's ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro.
With a voting-eligible population of 35.4 million, the primary election on Sunday is considered a significant indicator of the potential winner of the general election, particularly if one candidate manages to distinguish themselves from the rest.
The trio of candidates will now advance to the first-round vote scheduled for October 22, followed by a possible runoff on November 19.
Who is Javier Milei?
The primaries in Argentina introduced a new far-right face, Javier Milei, who will be facing Patricia Bullrich and Sergio Massa in the October elections. Milei is an economist with an ideology best described as conservative and libertarian.
His far-right sentiment is not a secret. Milei is a staunch supporter of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and former US President Donald Trump and is close to the Spanish Vox party.
Milei’s rockstar appearance is appealing to youngsters in Argentina. However, his social views are less appealing. Milei supports gun rights and wants to permit the sale of organs.
The fate of Argentina will be decided on October 22 as the three candidates will face each other in what could be a pivotal point in Argentina’s history.
