Calling himself the “king of the jungle” and wielding a chainsaw during his election campaign, Javier Milei is shaking up Argentine politics at a sensitive time for the country.
In just a few years, populist Javier Milei has gone from television polemicist to presidential candidate.
The programs in which he participated obtained high audience ratings thanks to his unrestrained declarations against a “political caste” whom he holds responsible for Argentina’s eternal economic problems.
Its motto : “I did not come to guide the lambs, I came to wake the lions.”
Its appeal seems to lie in its ability to channel the anger of Argentines towards the ruling class, in a context of triple-digit inflation (140%) and increasing poverty. More than 40% of the population struggles to make ends meet.
“He talks like someone from the street, like one of us, that’s why he’s so popular”says Rodrigo Agüera, an Argentinian waiter based in Barcelona.
“I am in favor of a change”he said, “but we will have to see what happens after that, because at the end of the day politicians will always be politicians, they tell you one thing and do another.”
“He is a person who does not understand the political system, says student Candela Kantor. It understands neither the electoral system nor the executive system. He has no experience in running a city or municipality. How can we expect him to govern a country?”
“He is surrounded by people he wants to place at the head of ministries, people who are closely linked to the worst crisis that Argentina has known”she adds.
Argentinians looking for an alternative
Javier Milei was favorite in the first round but he finished second, with 30% of the votes, almost seven points less than the current Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa.
Researcher Alan Ríos seems to think that the part of the population that votes for Javier Milei “does not recognize himself in the current discourse.”
“They have had experiences with both types of government and nothing has changed. In fact, it has gotten worse.”he explains.
The latest polls show that the two candidates are neck and neck with a large number of undecided voters who will be decisive.
No to abortion
Often called Argentina’s Donald Trump, Javier Milei embraces a mix of love for the ideals of capitalism and socially conservative policies, including an opposition to abortion, which Argentina legalized in 2020.
On the other hand, he is in favor of the free sale of firearms and human organs: “Why must everything be regulated by the State? My first property is my body”he says.
The introduction of the US dollar and the closure of the Central Bank are two of the measures he promises, as well as the privatization of public companies.
Some of his supporters also use props to imitate the chainsaw that Javier Milei has often brandished at his rallies to symbolize what he wants to do with state spending. The economist made it clear that there would be cuts in key social areas such as health, education and social development.
According to Luis Klejzer, history professor, “he represents a danger to democratic freedom and human rights.”
Historical memory in danger
Another point that has sparked public debate is the vice-presidential candidate, Victoria Villarruel.
ADVERTISEMENTThe daughter of military officers, she was criticized for questioning crimes committed during the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983, including the torture and disappearance of thousands of people by security forces.
“There is a large sector of society, military families, people from military circles, people more to the right, who are all involved in politics in Argentina and who until now have not had their place of representation”explains Alan Ríos.
“Javier Milei, by coming here and demanding all these things, also openly gives a place to all these people”he adds.
According to Luis Klejzer, Javier Milei’s character “is capable of channeling all the discontent that this society carries. Especially among young people”that the economic crisis is hitting hard.
“They don’t see a future. So they are trying to get out of this situation through the far right.”
ADVERTISEMENTBuenos Aires history professor says he is worried if Javier Milei were to be elected president, because “we are already one step away from the loss of the constitutional freedoms of our dear Argentina.”
