Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof all but launched his presidential candidacy this week, admitting that he is “working to beat” President Javier Milei in the 2027 election.
Speaking on Monday, two days after he drew a crowd of around 30,000 people to a speech in Avellaneda, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Kicillof stopped short of formally declaring his candidacy but did everything else but.
“We're working on this, we're working to beat Milei, but we're also working to have a much broader proposal for all sectors,” said the governor in an interview.
He made his remarks before travelling to New York, where the Peronist leader attended a series of events, including a breakfast meeting at Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence, during which he met with Zohran Mamdani, the rising Democratic Party star.
Kicillof, who also met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley at the event, presented his take on Argentina’s economy to those present.
“I want to take advantage of this meeting to address the propaganda that has been spread around the world about an 'economic miracle' in Argentina. Not only is there no miracle, but we are suffering a true catastrophe,” the governor stated.
“Thousands of jobs have been lost, businesses are closing every day, wages are falling, and the quality of life is worsening daily” in Argentina, he said.
Those comments echoed statements made by Kicillof last Saturday, when he delivered a speech at the federal plenary meeting of his Movimiento Derecho al Futuro (MDF) party, which brought together activists, political leaders and representatives from different provinces nationwide.
The event served as the national launch of the movement led by the governor and was dominated by discussions about building a political alternative for 2027.
Asked by Ari Lijalad of El Destape on Monday about the enthusiasm generated by the gathering, Kicillof argued there is public demand for an alternative to President Javier Milei’s government.
He said there was “enthusiasm,” “desire” and “energy” for the fight ahead. “There is an obligation to put an end to this nightmare next year,” the governor said.
“I think there is now a need, in addition to being an opposition, to be an option,” said Kicillof, who declared last Saturday that those taking on Milei could “count” on him.
Kicillof criticised the direction of Milei’s government, arguing that its policies were failing to respond adequately to changes taking place globally.
“What the Milei government is doing in the face of this change that is taking place is the worst thing that can be done,” he said.
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
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