Analysts said the upstart candidate who gained notoriety – and a “rockstar-like” following – by angrily ranting against the “political caste” did much better than expected and is a real contender for the presidency. With around 92% votes counted, Milei had around 30% of the total vote. The candidates in the main opposition coalition, United for Change, were at 28% and the current governing coalition, Union for the Homeland, had 27%.
Argentina has become the latest country in the region where voters are looking to an outsider candidate as a way of expressing anger against traditional politicians. In a nation struggling with annual inflation of over 100%, rising poverty and a rapidly depreciating currency, Milei attracted support by seeking to replace the peso with the US dollar.
BUENOS AIRES: Far-right populist Javier Milei rocked Argentina‘s political establishment on Sunday by emerging as the biggest vote-getter in primary elections to choose presidential candidates for the October election in a nation battered by economic woes. Rock-singing, wild-haired economist and lawmaker Milei, an admirer of Trump, says the central bank should be abolished, thinks climate change is a lie, characterises sex education as a ploy to destroy the family, believes the sale of human organs should be legal and wants to make it easier to own handguns.
