Javier Milei, the new president-elect of one of South America’s largest economies in the form of Argentina, won close to 56 percent of the electorate’s vote in last night’s contest.
Milei, who is an economist by trade and identifies himself as a libertarian, is set to shake Argentinian politics to its core, as the typically liberal leaning country will go with a strong right wing leader for the first time in decades.
Right-of-center politicians from across the globe congratulated Milei for his win, including former US President Donald Trump, who said that Milei would “Make Argentina Great Again.”
🚨 Trump congratulates Javier Milei on becoming President of Argentina:
“Make Argentina Great Again”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 21, 2023
He was also congratulated by former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
Tucker asks new Trump-like Libertarian President, Javier Milei, what advice he has for President Trump, as he runs again. pic.twitter.com/6AT3VEt9eX
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) November 20, 2023
So what should the average American know about Milei? What makes him different from other politicians? As mentioned above, Milei is a libertarian, a line of political ideology that has possessed only a few successful heads of states, especially in South America.
Milei believes in small government and believes that the state as an institution knows no better than the individual, and that when the state does get involved in things, it usually does it poorly.
Milei frequently slams left-of-center Liberals, and Socialists. He has proposed cutting welfare payments and making massive cuts to bureaucracy in the country by shutting down the ministries of culture, women, health, and education.
Javier Milei: Socialism is "cool" and "woke" when you like to be completely broke. Welcome to reality. pic.twitter.com/cXkUHUKxsp
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 19, 2023
He has said that he intends to privatize Argentina’s state energy company and the country’s public broadcasters. He has said that he wants to loosen gun laws, abolish abortion (which was only legalized in 2020) and allow the purchasing of human organs.
The victory comes as Argentina deals with a striking economic crisis, which has seen annual inflation skyrocket to 143%, with a stunning 40% of Argentines now living below the poverty line.
AFUERA!
I can’t wait to watch another pragmatic young leader turn around another South American country.
Let’s go Milei!pic.twitter.com/UQKga5Zn4O
— Ryan Selkis (d/acc)🪳 (@twobitidiot) November 20, 2023
