Milei Faces Key Test as Argentines Vote in Midterm Elections
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina is holding midterm elections Sunday, a crucial test of President Javier Milei’s radical economic agenda and political mandate just months into his presidency. All 127 seats in the lower house and 24 of 72 seats in the Senate are contested in the nationwide vote.
The elections represent a pivotal moment for milei,who took office in December promising to shock the country out of decades of economic stagnation. While enjoying initial support for his uncompromising stance, Milei’s government has struggled to pass legislation, managing only one law in March, and faces growing public anxiety over austerity measures.The outcome will considerably impact his ability to implement further reforms and stabilize Argentina’s volatile economy.
Most polls predict a tight race between Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (Liberty advances) party and the Peronist coalition, a historically powerful political force in Argentina.Currently, La Libertad Avanza controls less than 15% of Congress. A strong showing for the ruling party would bolster Milei’s position, allowing him to defend his austerity policies, uphold presidential vetoes, and push through labor and tax reforms.
However, a defeat could exacerbate economic pressures, potentially triggering a devaluation of the currency’s controlled exchange rate and fueling already high inflation – the president’s most touted achievement to date. The stakes are particularly high given Argentina’s ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding its significant debt.
“Each new government comes in, criticizes the last one, promises to do things differently and ends up being the same or worse,” said matías Paredes, a 50-year-old real estate broker who has seen his foreign clientele decline following Milei’s exchange rate policies. “this country moves in cycles.”
The elections are taking place against a backdrop of widespread economic hardship and political uncertainty. Milei, who rose to prominence with his unconventional style – once frequently featuring a chainsaw as a symbol of his commitment to cutting state spending – has seen that prop largely absent from the campaign trail in recent months. Argentines are bracing for the potential consequences of the election results, reflecting a deep-seated weariness with the country’s cyclical economic crises.
