In the first round of Argentina’s presidential elections, no candidate managed to secure an absolute majority. Sergio Massa, the center-left Minister of the Economy, and Javier Milei, a candidate with controversial ultraliberal views, will contest the second round. Milei, who advocates abandoning welfare benefits and dollarizing the country, came second. The latter has shown himself to be in favor of Bitcoin in the past.
Controversial Javier Milei qualifies for second round of Argentine elections
No political candidate was elected in the first round of the presidential elections currently taking place in Argentina, but 2 candidates from opposite ends of the spectrum managed to make it through.
On November 19, when the second round of voting will decide the fate of the South American country, Argentinians will have to decide whether to elect Sergio Massa, the current center-left Minister of the Economy, or Javier Milei, the self-proclaimed libertarian “anarcho-capitalist” who is considered by most observers to be on the extreme right for his radical stance.
In Argentina, a candidate can be automatically elected to the presidential post in the first round of voting if he or she manages to secure 45% of the vote, or 40% with a lead of more than 10% over the runner-up. This time, no candidate managed to win the presidency outright.
Sergio Massa came out on top with 36.69% of the vote, almost 7% ahead of his rival Javier Milei, who will enter politics in 2021.
Results of the first round of the 2023 presidential elections in Argentina
Javier Milei, who came out on top in these Argentine presidential elections, wants to dollarize Argentina to resolve the economic situation in his country, which holds the unfortunate record of one of the world’s highest inflation rates (138% year-on-year) with a currency that continues to depreciate.
Milei has spoken out in favor of Bitcoin in the past, indicating that the king of cryptocurrencies could establish itself as an alternative to “central bank crooks”. A remark that quickly earned him the label of pro-Bitcoin candidate, despite the fact that his platform does not include any measures in favor of Bitcoin.
Generally speaking, the populist candidate tends to be anti-system, advocating an ultra-liberal system and aiming to reduce the weight of the State in the country, notably by abolishing welfare benefits, the Ministries of Health and Education, and the Argentine Central Bank.
A radical program, but one that seems to suit some Argentines. In any case, the Argentine people will have to choose between Milei and Sergio Massa in the next round of elections, with the investiture scheduled for December 10.
For his part, Sergio Massa advocates a more sustained discourse and has appealed to “all those who share our democratic values”, as well as having promised to convene a “government of national unity” should he be elected.
