Election in Argentina – “Trumpman” can win

Abolished central bank, dollarization of the Argentine currency – and legal sale of human organs.

The ultra-liberal Javier Milei has been compared to America’s Donald Trump. Now he can win the presidential election in Argentina.

His strong support is above all a reaction to several years of economic decline, says Latin America expert Andrés Rivarola.

When the polls open on Sunday morning, Javier Milei looks to have the most support, according to most opinion polls. In order to be appointed president in the first round, however, at least 40 percent of the votes are required. A second round of elections in November is therefore likely.

Milei calls himself an “anarcho-capitalist”, claims global warming is a lie and says the sale of human organs should be “another market”.

In an interview with the American former Fox News profile Tucker Carlson, Javier Milei accuses his countryman Pope Francis of having a “kinship with communist murderers”, something which – even that – created strong reactions.

The controversial outings have meant that Milei took center stage during the election campaign, notes Andrés Rivarola, professor at the Nordic Latin America Institute at Stockholm University.

– This means that even the negative criticism can be to his advantage, he says.

Economic decay

But what perhaps attracts voters the most is Milei’s anger against what he calls “la casta”, the political establishment.

Anti-establishment rhetoric has emerged in many countries in recent years and is partly the result of an internationally coordinated campaign, Rivarola points out.

– You try to paint yourself as some kind of representative of the people against the authorities and this is really Milei’s version of the same way, he says.

Rivarola links the increased disdain for politicians to the high inflation the country is suffering from. Argentinians are probably very tired of the economic decay, he points out. In recent years, the country has been governed by both a centre-left and a right-wing government.

– But none of them have managed to solve the financial problems and it only gets worse and worse, says Rivarola.

– This makes me think that Milei is currently emerging as a strong force. He points out solutions for this, such as the dollarization of the Argentine currency.

Annual inflation in September was close to 140 percent. But the country has been through worse: The memory still lives on from the hyperinflation of the late 80s.

– The Argentinians know this and they are terrified, says Andrés Rivarola.

Rhetoric or politics?

In order for Javier Milei to be able to get through a large part of the national policy that he proposes, support is also required in Congress, where his party will probably not get a majority.

Therefore, many of the election promises are probably more about rhetoric than actual political content, emphasizes Rivarola.

The big changes will instead take place on an international level, if Milei is elected president, he points out.

Milei wants to leave several of Argentina’s international collaborations, such as the South American trade bloc Mercosur.

He and other politicians in the party La Libertad Avanza talk about an “international totalitarian communist takeover” in Latin America – which would also include the Pope – which must be defeated, says Rivarola.

– The left-wing coalition participating in this election receives only two percent of the support in the forecasts. There is no such thing, says Andrés Rivarola about the “communist takeover”.