Javier Milei promises 'drastic' changes for Argentina after dominant election win | CBC News | Associated Press:
November 19, 2023 - "Javier Milei resoundingly won Argentina's presidential election Sunday, swinging the country to the right following a fiercely polarized campaign in which he promised a dramatic shake-up to the state to deal with soaring inflation and rising poverty. With 99.4 per cent of votes tallied in the presidential runoff, Milei had 55.7 per cent and Economy Minister Sergio Massa 44.3 per cent ... the highest percentage that a presidential candidate has received since the South American country's return to democracy in 1983.
"In the streets of Buenos Aires, drivers honked their horns and many took to the streets to celebrate in several neighbourhoods. Outside Milei's party headquarters, a hotel in downtown Buenos Aires, a full-on party kicked off with supporters singing, buying beers from vendors and setting off coloured smoke bombs. Inside, the self-described anarcho-capitalist ... delivered his victory speech.... 'Argentina's situation is critical. The changes our country needs are drastic. There is no room for gradualism, no room for lukewarm measures,' Milei told supporters....
"With a Milei victory, ... a freshman lawmaker who got his start as a television talking head blasting what he called the 'political caste' will assume the presidency.
"Inflation has soared above 140 per cent and poverty has worsened while Massa has held his post. Milei has said he would slash the size of the government, dollarize the economy and eliminate the Central Bank as a way to tackle galloping inflation that he blames on successive governments printing money indiscriminately in order to fund public spending....
"Massa's campaign cautioned Argentines that his libertarian opponent's plan to eliminate key ministries and otherwise sharply curtail the state would threaten public services, including health and education, and welfare programs many rely on. Milei accused Massa and his allies of running a 'campaign of fear'.... In his final campaign ad, Milei looks at the camera and assures voters he has no plans to privatize education or health care....
"Most pre-election polls, which have been notoriously wrong at every step of this year's campaign, showed a statistical tie between the two candidates or Milei slightly ahead.
"The bitterness of the campaign was evident Sunday when Milei's running mate, Victoria Villaruel, went to vote and was met by protesters angry at her claims that the number of victims from Argentina's bloody 1976-1983 military dictatorship is far below what human rights organizations have long claimed, among other controversial positions."
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/argentina-presidential-election-1.7033471
Has trudeau phoned him yet to congratulate him..??? Hahahaha...
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