Milei Declares “Tipping Point” as His Party Wins Argentina’s Midterms
Argentina’s political landscape just took another dramatic turn, with President Javier Milei celebrating what he called a “tipping point” in the country’s future. His far-right party, La Libertad Avanza , has officially won Argentina’s midterm elections—an outcome that, while falling short of giving him a full congressional majority, is being hailed as a major political victory and a surprising comeback.
With more than 95 percent of votes counted, Milei’s party captured around 40.8 percent of the national vote. The main opposition, the Peronist-aligned Fuerza Patria , followed with about 31.7 percent. Analysts across Argentina are calling this result unexpected, especially after recent corruption scandals and growing economic struggles that had seemed to erode the president’s popularity.
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During his speech to cheering supporters in Buenos Aires, Milei was visibly energized. “Today we passed the tipping point—the construction of a great Argentina begins,” he said, drawing thunderous applause. He even broke into song, declaring himself “the king of a lost world,” before praising a recent $40 billion bailout deal from the United States, calling it “something unprecedented in Argentine and world history.”
That bailout, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump during the campaign, was reportedly tied to Milei’s success in this election. Many observers had criticized the move as political interference, warning it could backfire due to strong anti-American sentiment in parts of Argentina. Yet, the bet appears to have worked in Milei’s favor—at least for now.
In total, 127 of the 257 seats in the lower house and 24 of 72 senate seats were up for grabs. La Libertad Avanza secured 64 seats in the lower chamber and 12 in the senate, giving Milei enough presence to maintain veto power even without an outright majority.
Since taking office nearly two years ago, Milei’s government has pursued an aggressive austerity agenda often referred to as his “chainsaw plan.” He slashed public spending, froze investments in infrastructure, and cut jobs and social services in a bid to reduce inflation and balance the budget. Inflation did drop sharply—from over 200 percent in 2023 to roughly 30 percent this September—and Argentina even posted its first fiscal surplus in 14 years.
However, those economic gains have come at a steep human cost. Purchasing power has plunged, over 250,000 jobs have vanished, and thousands of small businesses have shut their doors. Allegations of corruption, a failed cryptocurrency project tied to the president, and scandals involving top officials have all tested public trust.
Despite these controversies, Sunday’s result shows that a large share of Argentinians still support Milei’s vision—or at least his promise to shake up the system. With turnout at just 67.8 percent, the lowest since democracy returned in 1983, it’s clear that while Argentina may have crossed a political tipping point, the road ahead remains uncertain.
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