Argentina - November 2023
Paradigm shift in Argentina’s politics with Milei’s presidential victory
In a significant shift in Argentina's political landscape, the presidential run-off on 19 November saw a resounding victory for Javier Milei. Despite falling behind Sergio Massa by nearly 1.8 million votes in the first round, Milei secured 55.7 per cent of votes in the second round, leaving Massa trailing at 44.3 per cent. Known for his far-right leanings, Milei is set to implement widespread privatizations and introduce dollarization within his first year in office, aiming to stabilize Argentina's economy. His win has provoked a variety of global responses, with some expressing cautious optimism and others expressing concern about Argentina's economic trajectory.
Despite the challenging social and economic context in which the elections took place, Transparencia Electoral, an independent organization that promotes electoral transparency, praised the Argentine citizenry for their commitment to democratic values. The election concluded with a 76 per cent voter turnout, according to the National Electoral Chamber. A slight increase from the 74 per cent turnout in the October general elections, but lower than the 2015 run-off where 80.8 per cent of the eligible voters participated.
Sources: El País , Buenos Aires Herald, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Transparencia Electoral, Cámara Nacional Electoral
