A former rock band member, former tantric sex coach, and someone who allegedly takes advice from his five cloned mastiff dogs, Javier Milei, may be one of the world’s most bizarre presidents. But if the Argentinean libertarian’s theatrical persona and bombastic promises of change become reality, the consequences could be felt far beyond the country’s borders.
With inflation at 143%, extreme poverty, and a pervasive view that everything is broken, Milei’s populist message has struck a chord with a frustrated public. His election is a surprise given that opinion polls had him finishing a distant third behind the right-wing candidate, Sergio Massa, who outgoing President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner handpicked.
Milei has ridden a wave of disillusionment among many voters whom a stagnant economy has left behind and years of populist rule. His promise to cut the size of the government and limit foreign debt has resonated with those who feel the establishment parties are not listening or have let them down.
As a result, his victory will be viewed as a significant setback for the political class in Argentina and beyond. And though his coalition won just two seats in Congress and he has no power over the powerful governors, he can still impose his will by organizing mass street protests known as ‘piquetes.’
In the past, he has used them to demonstrate against the rising cost of gas and to call for an end to a tax on petrol profits. And he is likely to use the new power he has gained to push for greater freedoms, such as deregulation and the right to sell off state assets.
The self-described anarcho-capitalist has built ties with Spain’s hard-Right Vox party and pledged to spearhead an austerity program to help pay off Argentina’s $44 billion debt. He has also promised to abolish labor laws and replace the peso with the dollar. Despite boasting of his sexual prowess and blaming “cultural Marxism” for the gay rights movement, Milei is a staunch Catholic and says he would limit abortion rights in all cases unless the mother’s life were at risk.
He thinks sex education is a Marxist plot to destroy the family and has raised the possibility that people should be allowed to sell their vital organs. Milei has said he will appoint technocrats from other established parties to his cabinet, but many believe he will stuff it with ideologues from his outfit. Whether his vision can be put into practice will depend not only on the caliber of his team but also on the effectiveness of his policy ideas. His ability to reform his nation will set the tone for Latin America’s rights. And his failure will be a somber warning to like-minded parties elsewhere in the region.
