News of libertarian

The tale behind Milei’s chainsaw gift for Elon Musk

21-02-2025 17:06 President Javier Milei presents billionaire Elon Musk with a replica of the chainsaw he keeps at the Casa Rosada — how a tool manufacturer found a niche in the libertarian marketplace.

POLITICS

‘Forces of heaven’: Milei loyalists launch ‘armed' libertarian grouping

19-11-2024 17:49 La Libertad Avanza supporters, headed by online troll ‘Gordo Dan,’ government deputies and national officials, stage rally in San Miguel to launch new “armed” wing and "praetorian guard" known as "the forces of heaven."

EDITORIAL

The Wall Street shuffle

28-09-2024 06:27 Milei doubtless imagined that he was ringing his own Liberty Bell but it was also a self-excommunication from the international community which might well send alarm-bells ringing, not least among Wall Street investors.

As I see it

A most illiberal libertarian

07-09-2024 06:06 Is Milei a democrat? Probably not; it is increasingly clear that, by instinct, he is an authoritarian who does not take kindly to even mild criticism.

by James Neilson

LIBERTARIANISM WORLDWIDE

Liberland: the micronation building bridges with Javier Milei

29-06-2024 04:32 Free Republic of Liberland, a micronation between Serbia and Croatia, has yet to receive international recognition, but its self-proclaimed president, Czech libertarian Vít Jedlicka wants to deepen its links with Argentina and Javier Milei.

by Giselle Leclercq

LIBERTARIAN FORUM

President Milei, Elon Musk to speak at libertarian forum in Buenos Aires

11-06-2024 17:07 President Javier Milei and billionaire businessman Elon Musk (by videoconference) to speak at event organised by Fundación Libertad y Progreso and the Cato Institute.

CULTURE WARS

No more CCK – Milei government baptises ‘Palacio Libertad’

07-05-2024 21:39 National government says it will rename the Centro Cultural Kirchner as it moves to “depoliticise” iconic building that once housed Argentina’s Post Office.

As I see it

The Kirchnerites have Milei in their sights

13-01-2024 06:21 The fate of the new government will depend largely on Milei’s ability to persuade people that the fearful emergency he goes on about is not just a figment of an overheated imagination but something terribly real.

by James Neilson

NEW ERA FOR ARGENTINA

Milei and a libertarian’s wet dream

09-12-2023 05:45 Is Milei’s ambitious reform package possible in today’s Argentina? Not only does his La Libertad Avanza coalition lack congressional muscle, but both of its negotiating partners are deeply fragmented, muddying the legislative front.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

Javier Milei may find an unexpected friend in the IMF

21-11-2023 16:43 What will the relationship be like between Javier Milei and the International Monetary Fund, given the impact of Argentina's ongoing US$44-billion loan agreement?

ELECTION 2023: run-off

United States government congratulates Milei on election win

19-11-2023 23:52 The United States congratulated Argentina's president-elect Javier Milei on his election victory Sunday, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken praising the "strong turnout and peaceful conduct of the vote."

ELECTION 2023: REACTION

President-elect Milei vows to end ‘Argentine decadence’ in speech

19-11-2023 22:37 In a victory speech to adoring cheer-filled supporters, Argentina's president-elect Javier Milei on Sunday vowed to begin "the reconstruction of Argentina" and end the country's economic decline.

ELECTION 2023: RUN-OFF

Argentina takes leap into unknown with Javier Milei as president

19-11-2023 21:20 Attention will now turn to how Javier Milei implements his most contested measures with only a handful of representatives in a fragmented congress and an impatient electorate. He will take office December 10.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Victoria Villarruel criticises ESMA dictatorship world heritage site

14-11-2023 13:55 Far-right vice-presidential candidate Victoria Villarruel suggests ESMA memory site, once home to detention and extermination camp, should be turned into a school; Javier Milei’s running-mate alleges widespread corruption in government’s human rights policies.

ELECTION 2023

Milei’s followers stir up spectre of fraud on social networks

09-11-2023 10:21 Echoing the elections of Donald Trump in the United States and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, Argentina now becomes the latest country to battle unfounded electoral fraud claims.

ELECTION 2023: OPINION

Macri hates Massa more than Cristina and her Kirchnerites

04-11-2023 05:21 The talk of vanquishing Kirchnerism is as meaningless as when Milei speaks of Communists. Kirchnerism today is not Macri’s enemy, Massa is.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

ELECTION 2023

‘The two options are bad’ – Rodríguez Larreta refuses to back Milei or Massa

25-10-2023 19:53 Horacio Rodríguez Larreta declares both Massa and Milei would be bad for the country and refuses to endorse either candidate; Buenos Aires City mayor says he will fight to expand opposition coalition.

by James Grainger

ELECTION 2023: ANALYSIS

Election 2023 breaks new ground – PASO winner fails to retain lead

23-10-2023 00:03 For the first time in Argentina, the political party that won the PASO primaries – La Libertad Avanza – didn’t retain first place in the election proper.

ELECTIONS 2023

Milei closes campaign ahead of 'most important vote in last 100 years'

19-10-2023 01:09 Libertarian presidential frontrunner closes campaign with rally at Movistar Arena; Milei declares Sunday's vote to be "the most important elections in the last 100 years."

Election 2023

Airing the dirty laundry of Argentina’s political caste

13-10-2023 11:27 As we get closer to the general election there could be a few more surprises of the smear campaign machine, so hold onto your hats.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

ELECTION 2023

Radical outsider Milei fires up young Argentines ahead of election

05-10-2023 11:50 Many young people are flocking behind radical upstart Javier Milei, the libertarian lawmaker who has surged to the front of Argentina's presidential race.

GUEST COLUMN

Milei and Perón: one heart?

30-09-2023 05:11 Some suggestive parallels can be drawn between the phenomena embodied in the figures of Juan Domingo Perón and Javier Gerardo Milei.

ELECTION 2023

Milei targets big cities in bid for first-round win

26-09-2023 13:23 La Libertad Avanza presidential candidate shifts campaign focus to urban centres, targeting heavily populated areas of Buenos Aires Province, Córdoba and the nation’s capital; As presidential debate nears, Milei targets victory on October 22 and avoid a run-off.

by Juan Pablo Kavanagh

CAMPAIGN COMMENTS

Will Mendoza be the bulldozer?

23-09-2023 05:03 Whichever way Mendoza goes, it will be the last throw of the dice before general election day on October 22.

by Michael Soltys

ELECTION 2023

Milei, Barrionuevo and the ‘casta sindical’

22-09-2023 05:50 Restaurant worker chieftain Luis Barrionuevo, who has been meeting with libertarian presidential frontrunner Javier Milei, is perhaps the union leader with the greatest number of leaps and bounds in modern Argentine politics.

by Javier Calvo

DOLLARISATION ON THE CARDS?

Former IMF board member backs Milei’s dollarisation of Argentina

21-09-2023 23:14 Mark Rosen, a former US official on the IMF's board from 2019 to 2021, offers rare show of establishment support for Javier Milei's dollarisation proposal.

ELECTION 2023

Milei’s former billionaire boss praises his Argentina contender

21-09-2023 09:58 Eduardo Eurnekian, an Argentine billionaire and former boss of presidential frontrunner Javier Milei, praised contender Patricia Bullrich while stopping short of offering his explicit backing ahead of the country’s general election in October.

Election 2023

Milei the destroyer and fear of the unexplainable

09-09-2023 05:09 The fear that Milei and his weird entourage of cosplayers, social media influencers, extreme-right “dictatorship deniers” and C-class corrupt political leeches generates has to do with a breakdown in the conditions of governability.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

ELECTION 2023

Operation Beat Milei – Massa’s emergency election campaign

05-09-2023 14:35 Sergio Massa unveils package of measures to be competitive; With Lula's request and a gubernatorial rebuff ringing in his ears, Sergio Massa is fighting for Javier Milei's votes.

by Juan Luis González

HUMAN RIGHTS

Victoria Villarruel on the military dictatorship and era of state terrorism

05-09-2023 11:58 Javier Milei’s running-mate leapt into politics from her militancy in organisations for "a complete memory" of the 1976-1983 era of state terrorism. Her statements on the military dictatorship, response to those who accuse her of denialism and the national deputy’s links with dictators.

ELECTION 2023

Four theses about Javier Milei

26-08-2023 06:30 In the age of near total smartphone and Internet penetration, Javier Milei has proven that a viral phenomenon is more powerful than the traditional party structures that supposedly guarantee the vote throughout the nation.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

KEY PHRASES

Javier Milei and his beliefs – in his own words

21-08-2023 06:23 Libertarian presidential hopeful has shook up the election race – here are some of his key quotes.

POLITICS

Milei wants to appoint Macri as Argentina’s overseas ambassador

19-08-2023 17:08 Relations between libertarian outsider and former president grow closer; Milei says he would consider appointing Macri as “plenipotentiary ambassador” if he wins October election.

PRIMARY FALLOUT

Milei promises Argentina can be saved with libertarian economics

17-08-2023 15:11 Presidential contender pushes for a free-market overhaul; Candidate wants to downsize the state after years of chaos.

Election winner speaks

Milei: ‘My Cabinet is in place, it’s ready to take over now’

14-08-2023 15:20 Bullish libertarian lawmaker Javier Milei gives first interview after PASO triumph; Primary results show “society is angry,” he argues, while revealing that Mauricio Macri contacted him to congratulate him on results in primary election.

PASO PRIMARIES 2023 – ANALYSIS

Libertarian shift – the 16 provinces where Javier Milei triumphed

14-08-2023 13:24 Economist and national deputy scored surprising wins in 16 of the 24 districts across national territory; Stronger than expected performance outside of the capital and Buenos Aires Province.

BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS

Dog-loving, Central-Bank-hating economist upends polls

14-08-2023 11:10 Outsider Milei turns race on its head with primary win; Libertarian has proposed scrapping Central Bank, ditching peso.

ELECTION 2023: PASO PRIMARIES

Outsider Milei leads Argentina’s primary with strong showing

13-08-2023 23:05 Libertarian lawmaker Javier Milei leads crucial primary vote with stronger-than-expected performance that upends presidential race, increasing uncertainty ahead of October election.

ELECTION 2023

'A complete reform of the State': Milei presents plan for government

03-08-2023 15:45 Libertarian presidential hopeful outlines ideas for privatisation of healthcare, education and public works projects. Milei intends to slash government portfolios, unifying ministries while eliminating the Central Bank.

OPINION & ANALYSIS

In defence of Milei

11-07-2023 13:06 The debate proposed by La Libertad Avanza is a healthy one, although perhaps tainted by the source of its origin: they are raising it in order to cover up their own financial shenanigans.

by Javier Calvo

ELECTIONS 2023

Argentina’s political hegemony crumbles in the face of primaries

17-06-2023 06:04 In a nation accustomed to charismatic leaders that create vertical organisations, the fragmentation of the political field is creating a whole lot of stress and volatility. And savagery has taken over.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

ELECTIONS 2023 – ANALYSIS

Has support for Milei reached a ceiling?

13-06-2023 16:09 The libertarian lawmaker’s brand remains strong but support for his presidential candidacy is failing to translate to his local representatives in the provincial ballots. Has Javier Milei’s support hit a ceiling?

by Ramón Indart

ELECTION 2023

José Luis Espert signs up with Juntos por el Cambio for election

08-06-2023 16:22 Liberal economist José Luis Espert confirms his incorporation into the opposition coalition, posting photos with both Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and Patricia Bullrich.

ELECTION 2023

Javier Milei confident he’ll win election in run-off

29-05-2023 15:32 Libertarian presidential hopeful confident that he will win Argentina's Presidency in a second-round run-off, forecasting a triumph over Juntos por el Cambio or Frente de Todos, no matter who the candidate.

CAMPAIGN COMMENTS

A no-win election

27-05-2023 06:45 The fact remains that the last three people to run Argentina have all opted to sit this election out. The only question here is what lies behind their “fear to tread.”

by Michael Soltys

Election 2023

Electoral platform: Dollarisation, privatisations, guns, no sexual ed

18-05-2023 15:33 Leaked electoral platform presented by libertarian lawmaker to Judge María Servini features more than 60 proposals he aims to put into practice if he becomes president.

POLITICS – ANALYSIS

Milei sees fragmented opposition and moves closer to Bullrich

24-04-2023 12:41 Javier Milei observes fragmentation in the opposition Juntos por el Cambio coalition and believes he can reach an agreement with Patricia Bullrich, should he make it to the run-off.

by Juan Pablo Kavanagh

EDITORIAL

Third way, third-rate or third world?

22-04-2023 07:13 When the only certainty is uncertainty, any logic evaporates. The prevailing mood in the build-up to this year’s elections is more like mindless panic.

ELECTIONS 2023

Milei’s policies – and poll numbers – spark concern

22-04-2023 07:00 Outspoken libertarian lawmaker Javier Milei looms larger each day over Argentina's upcoming election, with his politics, proposed policies – and poll numbers – shocking the establishment.