In a surprising turn of events in Argentina’s primary election, outsider candidate Javier Milei, a libertarian economist, gained unexpected popularity, leading the vote with 30.5 percent.
Following him were the main conservative opposition bloc and the ruling Peronist movement, with 28 percent and 27 percent respectively. Milei’s success is seen as a rejection of the traditional political forces amidst a severe economic crisis, characterized by rampant inflation and increased poverty levels.
The rise of Milei, who advocates for the closure of the central bank and the dollarization of the economy, reflects the public’s growing frustration with the status quo. Voting by law is required in Argentina. The turnout for the primaries was below 70 percent, the lowest in over a decade, showing that many people are unhappy with the current politicians.
