2023-11-19 12:06:55
In the runoff election on Sunday, Economy Minister Sergio Massa from the ruling Peronists ran against the libertarian populist Javier Milei. In the most recent polls, both were almost neck and neck. Around 35 million people were called to vote. Voting is compulsory in the country.
In the midst of a severe economic crisis, the self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist” Milei promises a radical about-face: He wants to introduce the US dollar as legal tender, abolish the central bank and many ministries and cut social spending. Government candidate Massa, on the other hand, is likely to continue the current policy with massive state intervention in the economy and extensive social programs.
South America’s second largest economy is in a deep economic crisis. The inflation rate is over 140 percent, and around 40 percent of people in the once rich country live below the poverty line. Argentina suffers from a bloated state apparatus, low industrial productivity and a large shadow economy that deprives the state of much tax revenue. The national currency, the peso, continues to lose value against the US dollar and the mountain of debt is constantly growing.
According to consistent reports, a total of five people were arrested in the run-up to the runoff election for alleged threats against Massa. After the arrest of three men and a woman on Friday, an 18-year-old woman was arrested in the northern Argentine city of Salta on Saturday, according to Security Minister Aníbal Fernández. As the news portal “Infobae” reported, citing judicial circles, the teenager is said to have threatened to kill the 17-year-old son of presidential candidate Massa in a direct message on the online service Instagram. On Thursday, a federal judge opened an investigation and ordered personal protection for Massa’s family after a series of threatening messages were discovered on online networks.
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