Two arrests in Santa Fe during Milei campaign rally

Two people were arrested on Saturday in Santa Fe following minor clashes at a campaign rally staged by President Javier Milei.

The unrest broke out as the President took part in events supporting local candidates representing his party, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), in the final stretch of campaigning ahead of the October 26 midterm elections.

Milei is seeking to strengthen his position in Congress, where his political movement currently holds a minority.

His campaign, however, is facing turbulence on several fronts.

Karina Milei, the President’s sister and chief-of-staff, has been implicated in a corruption case linked to the ANDIS national disability agency, while José Luis Espert, LLA’s main candidate in the upcoming election has been accused of having links to drug-trafficking.

The President himself remains under investigation over an alleged cryptocurrency fraud and his party suffered a clear defeat in September’s elections in Buenos Aires Province, an opposition stronghold which represents around 40 percent of the national electorate.

Against that backdrop, Milei travelled to Santa Fe City to attend a rally with local candidates, where he was greeted by a cheering crowd of supporters.

But elsewhere in the city, demonstrators took to the streets to voice their opposition to the President with chants and banners.

Clashes between opponents and government supporters “ended with two people detained by the Federal Police,” a police source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

Some local media outlets reported that four people were arrested.

Similar disturbances occurred last Monday during the President’s visit to the southern province of Tierra del Fuego.

Later that evening, Milei staged a rally on the waterfront of the Paraná river. Calling the elections “a pivotal moment,” he acknowledged that LLA is going through “a difficult moment.”

“Although we have done a lot, there is still much to be done,” said the President.

"We are halfway there, I ask you not to give up because this time it is worth it. Freedom advances or Argentina retreats!" he said.

– TIMES/AFP/PERFIL