Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei's closing campaign rally, in Buenos Aires / Photo: ReutersFernando Tosto says he doesn't agree with everything that Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei says or wants to do.
He does vehemently disagree with Milei regarding his proposal to freely carry guns in Argentina like in parts of the United States. Tosto describes it as potential “chaos” and is fearful it could increase homicides nationwide over simple things like road traffic incidents between drivers. “You can't live here anymore,” Tosto tells TRT World, referencing the country’s economic situation. “It's unavoidable that a change would appear.”
Tosto believes alongside improvements to healthcare Milei’s economic vision will entail hard working Argentines can be afforded “a better quality of life, more security.” “From there he defended the most extreme form of economic liberalism, with a strong criticism of state intervention, public spending and the redistributive intervention of the state that went ‘against individual freedom’,” Villareal tells TRT World.
In doing so, Milei has pushed his brand of anti-establishment discourse, denouncing Argentina’s political establishment and being vocal about his fight against socialism. He’s also against abortion and favours private gun ownership. After some time watching Milei, the 28-year-old says he got drawn in by the politician’s confident manner and policies discussed in his videos.
Martin’s research suggests most of Milei’s followers are largely young males aged 15-35 years old, discussing themes like the future, strength, liberty, work, taxation. 36-year-old Matias Nicolas Pennisi, an accounts clerk sees the general discontent as the main fuel behind Milei's success, noting the strong polarisation between those backing the former president Kirchner and the rightwing opposition PRO.
"A return to liberalism under the terms proposed by Milei could only lead to a greater impoverishment for the population and an even more marked division among the lower and upper classes and a possible worsening in the dispute between the most organised sectors and the state, which happened in 2017 during pension reform implementation under Mauricio Macri’s government ," Pennisi tellsAccording to Villareal, like other global far-right movements alongside fiscal austerity, criticism...