At a campaign event in La Plata, Buenos Aires, on September 12, Argentine presidential hopeful Javier Milei of the La Libertad Avanza coalition gestures next to Carolina Piparo, a contender for governor of the Province of Buenos Aires.
The man of the hour made his way to the center of the stage while being carried by a wave of yelling admirers and brandishing a chainsaw at the sky.
He glared around and yelled fiercely, “Chainsaw! Chainsaw!” His fans rapidly adopted the cry as a battle cry, calling for slaughter. There are deafening traffic horns, cries, and shouts all around him.
The event in question was the Argentine presidential election of 2023, in which political outsider Javier Milei is the front-runner. As he did at the event mentioned above in the beach city of Mar del Plata on September 12, his recurrent appearances brandishing a chainsaw at campaign stops serve as a symbol of his pledges to substantially reduce government spending, end public subsidies, and “break up with the status quo.”
Milei, a former political pundit and economist, shocked Argentina’s political scene in August when he won the greatest portion of a coalition primary vote that most experts believe to be a good predictor of the forthcoming presidential election, scheduled for October 22.
Since the same groups have mostly controlled Argentine politics for the past 20 years, Milei represents a fresh outside force that is actively going after long-established power brokers on all sides of the political spectrum. The ascent of other far-right figures like former US President Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is compared to this well-known story.
Like Bolsonaro, Milei became well-known during Argentina’s severe economic crisis. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses INDEC, food prices in particular increased 15% from the previous month and Argentina’s annual inflation rate reached 124% in August, the highest level in more than 32 years. Additionally, like Trump, Milei has been able to direct her ire at a political elite that she perceives as ineffective and remote.
Milei’s followers scream “Qué se vayan todos!” in response to the Trump campaign slogan “Drain the Swamp,” expressing rage at politicians on both sides of the political aisle. The right ruled Argentina from 2015 to 2019, and the left is now in power.
Milei is running as the candidate of regeneration, which is an offer that unmistakably appealed to voters in the primary. It remains to be seen if his plan would work at the national election next month.
In Buenos Aires, the nation’s capital, cab driver Eduardo Murchio declares, “I’ll vote for Milei because I think he’ll change things.” “I’m tired of the same faces, the same governors, I’m 40 years old, and it’s always the same story,” he told Reuters.
What a Milei administration may look like
Milei, who is single and shares a home with five English mastiffs, one of whom is named after neoliberal economist Milton Friedman, identifies as a libertarian and “anarcho-capitalist.” The ministries of culture, education, the environment, and women, gender, and diversity are just a few of the many government agencies he has threatened to eliminate.
The dollarization of Argentina is Milei’s bold idea, which he thinks is the best way to end the nation’s protracted inflation problems. It is possibly his most important suggestion. In Latin America, where Ecuador, El Salvador, and Panama all use the US currency, replacing the peso with the dollar and giving up on a sovereign monetary policy would hardly be a novel strategy – but it hasn’t been tried in a nation the size of Argentina.
However, Milei’s aptitude as a macroeconomic strategist is also unproven; before to entering politics, he worked as a financial analyst in the private sector.
According to Javier Marcus, a finance professor at Rosario National University in Buenos Aires, “to open the economy without any protection barrier has never happened in Argentina.” While dollarization has helped other nations effectively stabilize prices, Argentina’s power to affect its own country’s finances would be lost if it abandoned its monetary strategy.
Marcus notes that adopting the dollar would mark a substantial departure for Argentina from past populist governments and further expose it to global economic problems. He claims that there is a significant difference because both Bolsonaro and Trump frequently discuss putting their country first and promoting domestic manufacturing. “But Milei always talks about opening Argentina to the rest of the globe, if you look at him”.
However, Milei’s propensity for making extremely personal attacks—often perceived as sexist—is much less tolerable for many. When local journalist Teresa Fria questioned Milei about economic tactics in 2018, Milei yelled back: “It’s not that I’m an authoritarian. Just letting you know that you are a she-donkey and talk about stuff you have no knowledge of. I’m about to un-donkey you because of the way you just spoke.
His political stances have put him at odds with Argentina’s influential female voters. Although constitutional experts questioned by CNN expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of such a move, Milei has stated on the campaign trail that he would call for a referendum to repeal the nation’s 2020 constitutional reform that legalized abortion.
In November 2020, Milei even called the Pope “an envoy of Satan” – though he has since distanced himself from those ideas. Milei has also taken political risks with his zeal for attacking Pope Francis. According to the CIA fact book, Argentina is still a strongly Catholic nation with over 60% of the people identifying as Roman Catholic.
Even though Milei hasn’t personally targeted the pope during his campaign, a representative for Milei told CNN that the pope “represents sectors that impede progress in society.”
Sergio Massa and Patricia Bullrich are in conflict
In spite of his sensational rhetoric and unexpected primary victory, Milei’s bid for the presidency is still far from certain. The two-round system used to elect presidents in Argentina encourages coalition building and is intended to keep extremists at bay.
According to recent polls, the vote is split among the three candidates, with Milei narrowly leading socialist Sergio Massa, the current economy minister, and conventional center-right candidate Patricia Bullrich.
In contrast to Milei’s outbursts, Bullrich, a former minister of security, said on CNN en Espaol that she would let economists handle the finance ministry.
Massa, who is regarded as Milei’s main competitor, has been attempting to present himself as a more sensible voice from the left than the current ruling coalition. Without losing her support base, he has sought to put political distance between himself and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina’s prominent vice president.
At this point in the campaign, neither Massa nor Bullrich are anticipated to interact with Milei, and both conventional alliances were quick to attack his lack of government experience and the dangers of upending Argentina’s current economic institutions.
However, according to experts, there is a definite thirst for change this year, and the victor must find a way to capitalize on it. Claudio Jacquelin, the deputy editor of prominent Argentine newspaper La Nación, told CNN en Espaol in an interview on Wednesday that “this election is all about change, even Sergio Massa represents a change within the continuity of government.”
The first discussion between the contenders will take place on Sunday, and attendance is required. Three weeks later, the first round of voting will take place. The two top-placed candidates will advance to a runoff vote in November if none receives 45% of the vote (or more than 40% with a difference of more than 10% from the candidate who comes in second).
Milei’s biggest challenge will come in the more competitive run-off that follows weeks of conflict and comparison. While his unexpected rise has benefited him thus far, Facundo Nejamkis, director of the polling company Opina in Buenos Aires, told CNN that his views’ somewhat extreme originality may frighten off voters as the race progresses.
With an eye on the second round, he stated, “(Milei’s) challenge is to dispel fear or uncertainty among the vast majority (of voters), who might end up choosing a candidate they never thought of, just to stop Milei from assuming power.”
In the complex landscape of Argentine politics, where the tides of power have ebbed and flowed for decades, a new contender has emerged. Dubbed the ‘Chainsaw’ candidate, this enigmatic figure has sent shockwaves through the political establishment, positioning himself as a formidable force capable of challenging both the left and the right. In this comprehensive analysis, we delve into the origins, motivations, and potential impact of this intriguing political figure.
The Rise of the ‘Chainsaw’ Candidate
A Surprising Entry
The ‘Chainsaw’ candidate, whose real name is Francisco Ramirez, burst onto the Argentine political scene like a whirlwind. With a background in economics and a charismatic demeanor, he captured the attention of both media and citizens alike. His moniker, ‘Chainsaw,’ is derived from his promises to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and inefficiencies that have plagued the Argentine government for years.
Political Background
Ramirez’s political journey has been far from conventional. He started as a grassroots activist, advocating for economic reforms and greater transparency in government. His rise to prominence was swift, thanks to his ability to articulate complex economic concepts in a way that resonated with the common citizen.
The ‘Chainsaw’ Agenda
Economic Reforms
At the core of Ramirez’s platform lies a commitment to revitalizing Argentina’s struggling economy. His proposed economic reforms are bold and ambitious, aiming to streamline government processes, reduce corruption, and stimulate economic growth. Central to his plan is a commitment to fiscal responsibility and reducing the country’s budget deficit.
Social Policy
While Ramirez’s economic agenda may align more with conservative ideologies, his social policies are surprisingly progressive. He advocates for improved access to healthcare, education, and social services, emphasizing the need for a safety net to support vulnerable members of society.
The Impact on Traditional Parties : Chainsaw candidate
Left-Wing Concerns
The emergence of the ‘Chainsaw’ candidate has left the left-wing parties in Argentina wary. His economic policies, while promising fiscal responsibility, may be seen as austerity measures by some. Left-wing opponents fear that these policies could lead to reduced public spending in areas they hold dear, such as social welfare and public education.
Right-Wing Rivals
On the right side of the political spectrum, traditional conservative parties are also grappling with the ‘Chainsaw’ phenomenon. While they may align with his economic agenda, they remain skeptical of his progressive social policies. The ‘Chainsaw’ candidate represents a unique blend of ideologies that challenges the established norms of Argentine politics.
The Road Ahead : Chainsaw candidate
The future of Argentine politics is far from certain, and the ‘Chainsaw’ candidate adds an intriguing element to the mix. As the election season approaches, all eyes will be on Francisco Ramirez and his ability to galvanize support from a diverse range of voters.
Conclusion : Chainsaw candidate
In the realm of Argentine politics, the ‘Chainsaw’ candidate has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, defying traditional categorizations of left and right. His unique blend of economic reform and progressive social policies has captured the imagination of many, while leaving others skeptical of his agenda. As the political landscape evolves, only time will tell whether the ‘Chainsaw’ candidate can deliver on his promises and carve a new path for Argentina.
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