Phoebe Hennell

All is not lost for Argentina’s anarcho-capitalist presidential hopeful

Presidential candidate for La Libertad Avanza Javier Milei (Credit: Getty images)

Argentina’s presidential hopeful Javier Milei will have to wait to turn his country into an anarcho-capitalist anti-state where the peso is swapped for the dollar, the central bank ‘burned down’, and half the ministries torn up. Milei had been considered the frontrunner in Argentina’s presidential election, but he was pipped to the post in Sunday’s vote by centrist rival Sergio Massa, who received 36.6 per cent of votes to Milei’s 29.9 per cent.

While Milei’s supporters are disappointed, all is not lost for the chainsaw-wielding climate change-sceptical, pro-life economist: a run-off showdown between Milei and Massa is set for 18 November. Whichever candidate picks up the 6.3 million votes of defeated conservative candidate Patricia Bullrich, who was knocked out after winning over the Buenos Aires and nowhere else, will determine who triumphs. 

Milei’s rise from fringe player to August primary election victor divided the nation

Milei, a former amateur rocker, is in favour of austerity, privatisation and guns.

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