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From being an outsider, he became a favorite in Argentina’s presidential elections. Javier Milei is considered a right-wing liberal economist who has big plans for Argentina if he wins. A portrait.
He surprised everyone: Javier Milei won the primaries for the presidential elections in Argentina with 30.06 percent of the vote. For a long time he was considered an outsider, but now he is at the forefront in the race for the highest office, which will be decided on October 22nd. But who is the man with tough rhetoric and a hairstyle resembling that of Argentine national heroes?
Milei is considered a right-wing liberal economist who wants to radically liberalize Argentina. He describes himself as an anarcho-capitalist. The 52-year-old is said to have an ideological closeness to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and ex-US President Donald Trump. What connects the three of them is the fight against socialism, Milei once said in an interview with “Die Welt”.
Milei was born in Buenos Aires in 1970. He spent his childhood in middle-class neighborhoods and his youth as a goalie on the soccer field. He later studied economics, worked as an economic consultant in various organizations and wrote books. He became known for his many radio and television appearances, in which he criticized the economic policies of the current government.
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Milei wants to radically liberalize Argentina’s economy and thus pull the country out of the economic crisis.
REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
While he rails against state intervention in the economy, he represents extreme right-wing positions in other political areas. He is in favor of relaxing gun laws, wants to abolish the right to abortion and denies the crimes of the past military dictatorship in Argentina (1976-1983).
Milei as a beneficiary of the economic crisis
The economist stands outside the traditional Argentine party spectrum of Peronists and conservatives. The fact that he received so many votes is related to the situation in Argentina. The country has been stuck in a severe financial and economic crisis for years. The inflation rate is currently 115 percent. Over a third of the population lives below the poverty line. «We are looking for a change. We’re fed up with living like this,” said Franco Lesertessur (19) as he celebrated in front of Mileis’ campaign headquarters in central Buenos Aires.
Dissatisfaction is widespread in Argentina. By voting for Milei, many voters have expressed their disappointment with the traditional parties that have dominated Argentina’s political scene for decades.
Free market economy as a solution to inflation
Milei promises to pull the country out of the crisis with radical upheavals. He wants to abolish the central bank and introduce the US dollar as currency. He also wants to cut public spending and privatize the education and health systems. “We will put an end to the parasitic and useless political caste in this country,” Milei said in a speech after his primary election victory.
Milei sees the state as a criminal organization that lives off taxes and robs the Argentine people. For him, capitalism and the free market economy are the solution to inflation. “The problem here is no longer the cooks, but the recipe. If we don’t make a 180 degree turn, Argentina will turn into the most miserable country in the world,” Milei said in his speech.