Milei: chainsaw politics making headway?
Argentinian President Javier Milei's party La Libertad Avanza (LLA) has won the midterm legislative elections with around 41 percent of the vote. The right-wing populist president who has been in office for two years sees this as confirmation of his radical austerity policy. Before the elections, US President Donald Trump had made a billion-dollar aid package aimed at bolstering the peso contingent on a victory for the LLA.
End of the Peronist legacy
Milei can now rule unchallenged, writes Rzeczpospolita:
“Most importantly, the LLA now has enough seats to prevent parliament from overruling a presidential veto. This protects Milei from the opposition's attempts to push through additional government spending. ... To remain in power, Milei must now implement structural reforms that will pave the way for economic growth. This involves, in particular, simplifying the Byzantine tax system, reducing pension costs and liberalising labour market regulations. ... In short: the end of the legacy of Peronism that has been built up over decades.”
Pure window dressing
La Libre Belgique criticises the austerity policy:
“Inflation has certainly slowed, but at the cost of unprecedented budgetary and social cuts. ... Argentinians are now discovering - as are Italians under Giorgia Meloni a little closer to home - what lies behind the slogans about 'economic freedom': namely hospitals under pressure, young people emigrating and rampant poverty - all under the guise of austerity. What Milei is selling as 'great Argentina' looks more like a country on its knees, being fobbed off with promises of foreign investment and slogans telling people they must make sacrifices.”
Merz should look to Argentina
Die Welt voices approval:
“Voters reward consistent reformers who move the country forward quickly and visibly. When an economy is languishing, a clear course and courage are required, not an endless search for consensus and the preservation of vested interests. Where is Germany's reform miracle? ... The contrast to Milei's recipe for success could hardly be more glaring. One gets the impression that Merz has chosen the French path, with fatal consequences. The president of the neighbouring country, Emmanuel Macron, shied away from consistent reforms despite pithy promises and instead opted for ever-increasing national debt. Today France is close to being ungovernable and has only limited creditworthiness. Macron stands for failure, Milei for success. The Merz government should boldly correct its course and bring it closer to Milei's.”
Washington's bulwark against China
For El Mundo the outcome has global implications:
“It not only reinforces Milei's legitimacy, which has been undermined in recent months by corruption cases, but also represents a geopolitical victory for Donald Trump. The US president risked his political capital by making a 20 billion dollar bailout for Argentina contingent on the election result. And his gamble worked out. ... Argentina has thus consolidated its status as Washington's key ally in Latin America and a bulwark against Chinese expansionism. With his strengthened mandate, Milei can consolidate his policy of reforms, although he seems to have realised that he needs to soften his aggressive, polarising tone in order to build bridges and negotiate.”
In Trump's orbit
The US president can be satisfied, writes the taz:
“Dealmaker Trump knows when it's worth investing a few million. ... Milei is firmly in Trump's orbit, and he will soon be joined by the new conservative president of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, who has already announced that he will resume diplomatic relations with the US. And after the Chilean presidential election in November, perhaps by the far-right politician José Antonio Kast, too. He has good chances of winning against the communist Jeannette Jara. If this all comes to pass, Trump will have three allies, in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, who together own the important lithium triangle and the largest copper mines in South America.”