Mr Milei’s rival, economy minister Sergio Massa, called him to concede.

Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Mr Milei on his victory, saying he would “Make Argentina Great Again!”.

The election comes at a difficult time for Argentina with rising inflation and an economy in crisis on peoples’ minds.

Mr Milei’s proposals, which included detonating the central bank, won support with voters desperate for change…

  • Vant@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Fake populist with no real policy and only empty slogans and memes promises to fix the economy. We’ve never seen this before.

    • TheFriar@lemm.ee
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      Hey! That’s not fair!!

      He wants to make selling human organs legal. That’s…a policy.

      On social issues, he wants to loosen gun laws, abolish abortion - which was legalised in Argentina in 2020 - and allow the sale and purchase of human organs.

    • PoliticalAgitator@lemm.ee
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      It’ll go like shit, the way it always does when people vote right-wing.

      But for a bit of fun, be sure to ask any right-wing reactionaries what conservative leader actually made their country a better place – they all have an answer they want to give, but they know they can’t say it out loud.

    • racsol
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      Do you think complete Dolarization of the economy and closing the central bank is not a policy? (Just to name the more relevant)

      Do you think the other candidate, Sergio Massa (current minister of economy) had a real economic policy?

      I’m asking for real here.

  • PorradaVFR@lemmy.world
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    After years of tripping over their own feet Argentina opts to shoot itself in the dick because change.

    Ok.

    It’s a great country and Buenos Aires is a wonderful city but hoo boy this is … not likely to go well.

    • Damage@slrpnk.net
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      Desperate people resort to desperate measures when normal approaches fail. The ruling class forcing our countries to their bidding, against the interests of common people, are the cause for this.

      • rambaroo@lemmy.world
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        And now they’re going to steal everything you have left with this clown’s help.

        • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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          There are a small subset of the population that are voting for these clowns for exactly that reason… They are accelerationists. They want the 1% to steal the remaining piece of the pie from the 90% because people won’t fight for change unless they are literally starving.

          • theherk@lemmy.world
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            This is happening world wide; not everywhere but many places, and I wonder if the old style jubilee will be demanded.

      • Syndic@feddit.de
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        Desperate people resort to desperate measures when normal approaches fail.

        Oh great, that NEVER backfired massively.

      • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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        But it’s not even a desperate measure. It’s like, if you had terminal cancer, you wouldn’t drink bleach because you’re willing to try anything.

    • palal
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      Really not sure why this runoff went so poorly for Massa tbh

  • ZeroCool@feddit.ch
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    Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Mr Milei on his victory, saying he would “Make Argentina Great Again!”.

    I’d love to see where Trump thinks Argentina is on a map.

    • _xDEADBEEF@lemm.ee
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      Just out of curiosity, does anyone know when Argentina was “great”?

      • infeeeee@lemm.ee
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        Between 1860 and 1930:

        Between 1860 and 1930, exploitation of the rich land of the pampas strongly pushed economic growth.[3] During the first three decades of the 20th century, Argentina outgrew Canada and Australia in population, total income, and per capita income.[3] By 1913, Argentina was among the world’s 10th wealthiest states per capita.[4]

        https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_Argentina

        • ZeroCool@feddit.ch
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          And then of course beginning in 1945 the ratlines assured the freedom of many nazi war criminals in Argentina. There are plenty of reasons for Trump to like Argentina during the first half of the 20th century.

  • amenotef@lemmy.world
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    I just hope that in the long term the country can finally liberate the people who are currently economically dependent on the state. So they can find their own economic path, no matter who is ruling.

    They always give you money in Argentina. For exchange of a future vote, of course. But nobody really cares about giving you a way out where you are in charge and capable of finding and getting your own work and opportunities.

    And the inflation, as always, eats the lowest class first, the one that has less opportunities to find a new job. And less capable of saving money. Remember that. The very high inflation is indirectly murdering people.

    • vxx@lemmy.worldOP
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      if he’s like every other right wing populist, the poor will have it even harder. All for the rich, baby! Oh, and his own pockets will be filled.

      • racsol
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        Fuentes: Miami me lo confirmó.

        • vxx@lemmy.worldOP
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          I hope I’m wrong and that he’s the first far right populist in history that cares about their citizens and not the money.

          This guy looks like reports of decadent parties and wasting argentinas money on himself is right around the corner though.

          • racsol
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            wasting argentinas money on himself

            you mean like Cristina Fernández de Kirchner?

            In case you need context (because most people commenting doesn’t seem to know anything about Argentina): Cristina Fernández de Kirchner served as Argentina’s president between 2007 and 2015. Then, she was vice president in 2019 with Alberto Fernández as president.

            The other candidate Sergio Massa has been Minister of Economy since 3 August 2022.

    • racsol
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      Amen.

      For people who are not from Argentina, you should at least make the effort to understand the current problems argentinian society is facing.

      If you don’t care to do that, why even share any opinion at all and just hate Milei.

      There’s a lot of good reasons to hate the other candidates too. Even more than Milei if you ask me. The thing is, this guy does not come from the elite ruling class.

      Disclaimer: I am not Argentinian, but I have family and friends over there.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Far-right libertarian outsider Javier Milei has won Argentina’s presidential run-off poll, according to provisional results.

    Mr Milei’s proposals, which included detonating the central bank, won support with voters desperate for change.

    No matter, in a country where annual inflation is now over 140% and two in five people live in poverty, his win proves that Argentinians are fed up with traditional politics and economic disaster.

    Posting on X, he said the US would “look forward to building on our strong bilateral relationship based on our shared commitment to human rights, democratic values, and transparency”.

    South American leaders have also been commenting on Mr Milei’s victory, with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posting: "I wish good luck and success to the new government.

    But Chile’s President Gabriel Boric said he saluted Mr Milei “for his victory and Sergio Massa for his worthy recognition of defeat”.


    The original article contains 600 words, the summary contains 146 words. Saved 76%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • cyd@lemmy.world
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    Argentina’s been so wrecked by the Peronists that this is the one place in the world where bringing in a “hard right” president may not be a bad thing. Milei probably doesn’t have the right personality, or enough backing in the legislature, to have a successful presidency. But the alternative was worse.

    • logicbomb@lemmy.world
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      Germany was so wrecked by World War 1 that some people might have thought bringing in a “hard right” chancellor might not be a bad thing.

      What is it they say about those who don’t learn from history?

      • cyd@lemmy.world
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        1930s Germany isn’t always the best analogy for every situation anywhere, anytime. For one thing, the Weimar government was actually doing a decent job of rebuilding its economy after the war; they were kneecapped by the onset of the Great Depression, which was not their fault. Without Hitler, Germany would have eventually turned the corner and headed for economic prosperity.

        In Argentina’s case, the problems are the direct result of the Peronists’ decades-long dominance, and their uncanny ability to adopt every single bad idea on the economic left. Without getting rid of them, there’s no future for the country.

        • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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          How do you think people who are otherwise intelligent fail to learn from history?

          If you don’t have an answer, you’re not smart enough to learn from anything, let alone history.

          • ANIMATEK@lemmy.world
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            The comparison is absurd. Argentina is plagued by a political ideology that has been there for around 100 years and it is the only reason why the economics always fail. The only way to break the cycle is a complete revision. I don’t really like Milei, but the alternative is the same dead horse from the last century. Comparing this to Germany electing Hitler is shortsighted because the only similar things are crisis + big savior leader. I am watching closely what Milei will do, but he has promised in his winning speech to abide by the rule of law.

            I dare to say you are someone sitting in a first world country pretending to understand the situation here. I invite you to read what happened under his opponent only in the last year. People are getting poorer by the week.

            Milei might not be the best out there, but he’s the best chance we have for fresh start.

            • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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              Once again, you are demonstrating how people fail to learn from history. “It cannot happen here.” is RIDDLED throughout history from writings of those who chose to stand aside for dictators and other authoritarians. Do you think every single one of them didn’t have valid seeming reasons to dismiss the seemingly pessemistic view? “Yea it kiiinda’ looks the same, but it cannot happen because the specifics are all different!”

              I heard this CONSTANTLY from Hillary and Bernie or Bust people. “It cannot happen.” Yea sure, buddy. Keep assuming most people are logical, see how that plays out. I desperately hope I do not get to say, “I told you so” yet again some day.

          • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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            Because the vast majority of people aren’t intelligent. Most people barely subsist in western society, let alone take the time to study history and politics, let alone stay up to date on current events.

    • Diplomjodler@feddit.de
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      Sure, fascism is totally a solution. Worked every time it’s been tried so far, right?

      • racsol
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        What’s your definitiom of fascisim?

          • racsol
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            I like this list a lot. I’m actually going to bookmark it.

            From that article:

            Eco reduces the qualities of what he calls “Ur-Fascism, or Eternal Fascism” down to 14 “typical” features.

            Which of those 14 typical features you see in Milei’s movement to call it fascism? Because I see none, honestly.

            Edit: Grammar errors.

              • racsol
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                Indeed. And they pretend to hold any position of moral authority while defending Kirchnerism.

            • Fades@lemmy.world
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              you see none? Maybe open your fucking eyes

              From the get go, it’s a populist figure that rails against the left (so he’s a traditionalist attacking “modern depravity”)

              He campaigned hard on financial inequality and frustration

              Sometimes dubbed “El Loco” (the madman) by his critics, Mr Milei has promised drastic changes, which include ditching the local currency, the peso, for the US dollar and “blowing up” the central bank in order to prevent it from printing more money, which he argues is driving inflation.

              Not so bad, right?

              He has also proposed cutting welfare payments and slashing bureaucracy by closing the ministries of culture, women, health and education, among others

              Not so good either. I’d say that is approaching this point:

              Appeal to social frustration. “One of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.”

              Which again is fine given the context, but it doesn’t stop there.

              Next we have,

              This model of decadence has come to an end. There is no turning back," he told his supporters in his victory speech, promising a new era for Argentina.

              On social issues, he wants to loosen gun laws, abolish abortion - which was legalised in Argentina in 2020 - and allow the sale and purchase of human organs.

              He believes selling human organs should be legal, climate change is a “socialist lie,” sex education is a ploy to destroy the family…

              Which leans towards

              The cult of tradition. “One has only to look at the syllabus of every fascist movement to find the major traditionalist thinkers. The Nazi gnosis was nourished by traditionalist, syncretistic, occult elements.”

              The rejection of modernism. “The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity. In this sense Ur-Fascism can be defined as irrationalism.”

              And

              Machismo and weaponry. “Machismo implies both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality.”

              Especially since

              He’s denied the existence of a gender pay gap, despite statistics that suggest women in the country earn 27% less than men, and has been accused of ignoring the existence of gender violence and discrimination in a country where one woman was murdered every 35 hours on average last year.

              The election saw a shift in tone that could have far-reaching effects, said Claudia Laudano, a researcher and professor of feminist studies at the University of La Plata. “The legitimacy of all the work we have been carrying out for so long is being put into question, and that is very worrying,” she said.

              And lastly:

              His choice of Victoria Villarruel as his vice-presidential running mate shocked human rights campaigners in the country, in which 30,000 people were killed or forcibly disappeared under military rule from 1976 to 1983. Ms Villarruel, who comes from a military family, has defended officers convicted of crimes against humanity and proposed dismantling a museum which commemorates victims of Argentina’s military junta.

              Would seem to fall under this point

              Contempt for the weak. “Elitism is a typical aspect of any reactionary ideology.”

              Especially since it doesn’t end there:

              Victoria Villarruel, Javier Milei’s running mate who vindicates the dictatorship and opposes abortion and gay marriage. The daughter, niece and granddaughter of soldiers who participated in Argentina’s last military dictatorship (1976-1983), the vice presidential candidate is stirring up the culture wars on behalf of her country’s extreme-right

              So between the two of them there appears to be plenty of fascistic bullshit to go around. None, my ass; no shit he ain’t Mussolini but his whole campaign reeks of fascism regardless

    • MudMan@kbin.social
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      Just once I wish Argentina chose to not be a cautionary tale.

      But since we’re here, Americans should watch this space very carefully during the next year or so.

      • CALIGVLA@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        I feel like Americans know very well how this ends after living with Trump for 4 years… The ones that should’ve known better were the Argentinians.

        • MudMan@kbin.social
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          You would think, but then you look at the polls.

          To be clear, I don’t think it was worth doing this to Argentina just to have a visual aid for US elections. I’m just looking for silver linings here.

          And even those I’m not super hopeful for. You’d think Argentina would have looked at Trump and Bolsonaro themselves. But nope. It seems every country needs to try the “at least the far right nutcase isn’t like the boring guys who brought us to this point” thing. Sometimes multiple times.

      • floofloof@lemmy.ca
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        Americans already had the chance to learn from Trump and Bolsonaro. Those who support Trump are not interested in reality.

      • cyd@lemmy.world
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        That was fake news; he had a bad signal in his earpiece during an interview. Milei has enough wacky qualities (like whatever the hell is going on with him and his dogs) without dipping into misinfo.

    • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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      I assure you, at no point in human history, has anyone on the right ever acted for the good of the average citizen.