Argentina’s President Javier Milei has claimed a landslide victory in Sunday’s midterm elections, strengthening his mandate to pursue radical economic reforms and deep spending cuts.
His party La Libertad Avanza secured nearly 41% of the vote, taking 13 of 24 Senate seats and 64 of 127 lower-house seats.
«We must consolidate the path of reform we have embarked upon to turn Argentina’s history around once and for all… to make Argentina great again,» Milei told cheering supporters in Buenos Aires.
Before the vote, his ally Donald Trump linked a $40 bn US financial lifeline to Milei’s political success, which critics called foreign interference. Trump had made his stance clear before the election: «If he wins, we’re staying with him. If he doesn’t win, we’re gone.»
With expanded representation in Congress, Milei can now push his reform agenda with fewer obstacles.
Supporters hail Milei for cutting inflation and restoring investor confidence, while opponents say his austerity has fuelled poverty and job losses.
«Our province was devastated by previous governments,» said Ezequiel, a voter. «Now, thank God, freedom has won. We want our daughter to grow up in this beautiful country.»
Turnout was just under 68%, the lowest in decades, but the result shows that many Argentines still back Milei’s break from the Peronist past.
«Argentines showed that they do not want to return to the failed model, the model of inflation and a useless state,» he declared.
Markets are expected to rally after the win, as Milei’s political survival keeps his economic experiment — and US support — on track.
