Argentina woke up on Monday to a new president, Javier Milei, who was elected on Sunday in a runoff election. Milei, described as a combination of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, is a 53-year-old right-wing extremist known for his chaotic style. He has promised to move the Argentine embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem.
In a historic election with rare tensions, Milei secured over 55% of the votes, defeating the centrist candidate Sergio Massa, who received 44% of the votes. Milei declared, "Today, we begin to turn the page on our history and return to the path we should have never left." He emphasized the end of the notion that the state is a booty distributed among politicians and their friends.
Leaders across Latin America congratulated Milei on his victory. Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva expressed respect for Argentina, while Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso wished Milei success in addressing urgent issues. However, not all regional leaders had positive words for Milei, with Colombian Gustavo Petro calling his victory "sad" for Latin America.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated the newly elected Argentine president, urging him to make Argentina great again. Billionaire Elon Musk also expressed optimism for Argentina's prosperity.
Milei's significant challenges include tackling the soaring inflation, reaching 143% in a year, and addressing poverty affecting 40% of the population. The country also faces daunting debts, a devalued currency, and a continuous rise in prices despite social welfare programs. The new president will need to navigate these challenges to fulfill his promises of change and improvement.
