US-backed Milei secures decisive victory in Argentina midterms

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Oct 2025 12:26

Milei’s coalition expands its power in Congress, giving the libertarian leader momentum to push through his controversial economic overhaul.

Listen

Argentina's President Javier Milei celebrates after winning in legislative midterm elections in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP)

Libertarian Argentine President Javier Milei achieved a decisive win in Sunday’s midterm elections, strengthening his ambitious reform drive and marking a political rebound for the US-backed right-wing leader.

According to official results based on 90% of ballots counted, Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) secured 40.84% of the vote for seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The outcome reaffirms the president’s popular mandate after months of political turbulence and resistance from the opposition.

Celebrating his victory at a rally in Buenos Aires, Milei hailed the outcome as a defining moment for the nation. “Today we reached a turning point, today begins the construction of a great Argentina,” he told jubilant supporters, vowing to push forward with his sweeping economic and institutional reforms despite growing domestic criticism.

‘He had a lot of help from us’

Simultaneously, US President Donald Trump congratulated his Argentine counterpart on the win, calling it a testament to Milei’s leadership.

“Congratulations to President Javier Milei on his Landslide Victory in Argentina. He is doing a wonderful job! Our confidence in him was justified by the People of Argentina,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform during his ongoing Asia tour.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Japan on Monday, US President Donald Trump praised Milei’s electoral triumph, saying he wanted to “congratulate the victor, and he was a big victor, and he had a lot of help from us.”

Trump’s comments alluded to the $40 billion financial lifeline his administration had extended to shore up Argentina’s struggling economy. The bailout, a senior White House official confirmed earlier this year, was contingent on a strong electoral performance by Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party, a move seen as a political and economic show of faith in his libertarian agenda.

On Monday, Trump appeared to take partial credit for the result, remarking, “I gave him an endorsement, very strong endorsement, and it was really unexpected… people thought it would be hard [for Milei] to win, and not only did he win, he won by a lot.”

Wider context

The elections, which covered half of the Chamber of Deputies and one-third of the Senate, marked Milei’s first national test since taking office two years earlier. His government had launched a radical free-market overhaul, cutting tens of thousands of public-sector jobs, slashing subsidies, freezing public works, and reducing welfare transfers in an effort to balance the budget. While inflation had fallen by nearly two-thirds, poverty had soared past 50%, and real wages continued to shrink, leaving Argentines sharply divided over his “chainsaw” reforms.

In the days leading up to the vote, Milei’s approval rating had plunged to 39.9 percent, the lowest since he took office, according to a LatAm Pulse/AtlasIntel poll. Disapproval had climbed above 55%, reflecting widespread anger over austerity, inflation, and corruption scandals involving figures close to the president, including his sister and chief of staff, Karina Milei, who was accused of accepting bribes, and his Buenos Aires candidate, José Luis Espert, who withdrew after alleged links to a US-wanted drug trafficker. Both denied wrongdoing.

The economic fallout had deepened public frustration. Milei’s aggressive spending cuts initially triggered a currency run and sharp devaluation, forcing him to seek emergency assistance from the US. Trump had cautioned that he would not “be generous” if Milei suffered losses at the polls, tying Washington’s unprecedented support to the Argentine leader’s political fortunes.

Markets had braced for volatility in case Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party failed to secure enough seats to push through his legislative agenda. Polls indicated that the ruling bloc would fall short of a majority, forcing Milei to rely on center-right allies to pass bills amid entrenched opposition from the Peronist movement, which still controlled several key provinces.

In short, Milei’s victory cemented Argentina’s path under a harsh US-backed austerity plan that has rewarded investors while deepening poverty and social unrest.