Argentina’s “chainsaw” wielding president Javier Milei celebrated on Sunday after his political party received a massive number of votes in the Argentine midterm elections.
The results indicated that the current administration has retained its charm and influence despite previous scandals their leader had faced.
More allies in the legislature means fewer blockades
Local experts have projected a newer political stage in Argentina, given the newly improved position of Milei’s political party, La Libertad Avanza, after securing a huge leap in its number of seats in the Senate and the lower house, with a total of over 40% of votes against the opposition’s 31%.
The party managed to secure 14 out of 24 seats in the Senate, while gaining 64 out of 127 in the lower-house Congress.
This has secured Milei and his government massive backing on its future bills, especially with the president’s continuing aim of further cutting his country’s spending on social initiatives.
Some of the previous attempts of the Milei government to slash its spending include disability programs and financial support, child healthcare, funding for state universities, and among others.
The far-right leader has failed to pursue his plans, despite his veto on funding the said initiatives due to the blockage of the members of the Senate under the Peronism coalition.
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Argentines willing to give government another chance
Meanwhile, the La Libertad Avanza has also gained surprising support in Buenos Aires, a usual territory of the Peronist coalition.
With experts suggesting that the political shift was due to Argentines’ “fear” of another economic setback should they choose another leader with another agenda.
Since Milei successfully pulled down Argentina’s skyrocketing inflation rate within two years of his term, experts said people were convinced to give him another chance, as Gustavo Cordoba, director of the Zuban Cordoba polling firm, said.
Despite the strings of scandals and issues Milei had faced, experts said that the public had retained their support towards the eccentric leader.
Milei endured heavy criticism for his alleged links to a crypto firm involving massive fraud after billions of dollars worth of investments from the public immediately lost value shortly after the company’s launch.
Another case involves his sister and chief of staff, Karina Milei, facing bribery allegations.
Milei gets Trump’s backing
Milei had been known as a close ally of Donald Trump, and the positive result in the elections was good news for the US president as he seeks to cement the influence of the US in the region.
Washington had kept a close eye on the developments in the elections, with Trump vocal on retracting his decision that paved the way for a whopping $40-billion bailout for Argentina.
“If he (Milei) loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina,” the Republican leader warned.
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