Ticket to radicalism
The results can be seen as a good sign that a society that had been so cautious in electing presidents in the past 40 years, is at the end of its tether. When the Peronist president Carlos Menem, from the country's long-established political tradition, was ousted (in 1999) in favor of the more liberal Fernando de la Rúa, people were under the impression he would keep Menem's (unfeasible) convertibility policy of a peso for a U.S. dollar. He resigned two years later amid scenes of chaos.
Milei promised only radical measures and shock treatments
In 2015, it was the conservative Mauricio Macri's turn to take over; but again, amid a pervasive impression that changes would be gradual even if necessary. He was succeeding Cristina Kirchner, who then returned as the (very presidential) vice-president and power behind the outgoing Alberto Fernández.
This time, Milei promised only radical measures and shock treatments. No more gradualism in what he has called "Argentina's reconstruction." It is not clear how he will do this but he has already built bridges with the 'incrementalist' Right represented by Patricia Bullrich, the conservative candidate knocked out in the first round of presidential elections, and the former president Macri. Their PRO (Republican Proposal) party may fill some of the next cabinet seats, though it must be said that they too were willing to build bridges with the figure that was about to vacuum up their voter base.
While outgoing Economy Minister Massa did win in the country's most populated constituency, the province of Buenos Aires, the victory margin was so slim as to constitute in fact a humiliating defeat in what was meant to be a safe party base.
Javier Milei is the new elected president of Argentina after defeating the presidential candidate and current Minister of Economy Sergio Massa
Roberto Almeida Aveledo/ZUMA
Will of voters
Massa is a proud man habitually, yet hastened to congratulate Milei long before final results were announced, confirming he would step down as Economy minister in the transition period. It seemed nothing Massa could do nor any of his promises would overcome Milei: neither toxic Cristina Kirchner's favor of disappearing during the campaign nor Massa's apparent disdain for the outgoing president, nor a calculated decision to keep the (November 20) bank holiday - banking on keeping conservative voters at home!
Milei now faces a Herculean task.
Undecided voters weren't buying gestures this time. This time around, the electorate simply wanted this government out and refused another Kirchner variation like the Fernández farce hoisted on it in 2019.
Milei now faces a Herculean task. He must tackle the country's socio-economic crisis without yet having a clear and proper program in place. That's where Bullrich and Macri can come in handy, though it is still not clear how their legislators will align themselves.
Other political forces are also deciding on the posture to adopt toward the country's unexpected, and unnerving new president. Indeed, with Peronism soon pushed out, the political landscape may soon return to an old state of dispersion, and indecision. It is up to the next president to win the majority of Argentines over in a way that goes beyond casting a single vote.
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