Argentina votes right-wing ‘anarcho-capitalist’ Javier Milei as next president
Argentina has voted radical hardliner Javier Milei to rule as its next president after a divisive and bitter election.
Mr Milei surged from relative obscurity to score nearly 56 per cent of the vote while Sergio Massa, the current economy minister, won only 44 per cent.
“Today the reconstruction of Argentina begins. Today is a historic night for Argentina,” Mr Milei told jubilant supporters outside of his campaign headquarters on Sunday evening.
Mr Milei – a political newcomer, former TV pundit and Trump-loving libertarian economist – pledged to make “drastic changes” to the country and smash up the economic orthodoxy after he is sworn in on December 10.
Amid rampant 143 per cent inflation and record poverty, he campaigned on dismantling the Central Bank, dollarizing the economy, slashing social subsidies and halving the number of government ministries.
Mr Milei, 53, has also heavily criticised what he calls the country’s “corrupt political caste”, and earlier in his campaign wielded a powered-up chainsaw to symbolise the cuts he plans to make.
