Javier Gerardo Milei (born 22 October 1970) is an Argentine economist who is the President of Argentina since 2023. Controversial is the mildest way anyone can describe him, as his image since his entry into public life has always been associated with controversy in one way or another.
Milei first achieved notoriety and public exposure during the 2010s, when he was invited to debates featured on Argentine television programs, which quickly became characterized by insults to his rivals, foul language, and aggressive rhetoric while debating his Libertarian ideals and beliefs (which he largely described as "liberal", as in the "classical liberal" sense, rather than the modern sense given in North America that usually tends to refer to someone holding socially liberal/progressive views). He entered politics shortly afterwards; initially joining a libertarian coalition named Avanza Libertad ("Advance, Freedom"), after it gained little traction in the 2019 general elections, he would establish his own coalition, La Libertad Avanza ("Freedom Advances"), which contested the 2021 Argentine legislative midterm elections, securing third place and allowing Milei to enter the Argentine Congress as a national deputy.
Afterwards, Milei would use his newlyfound office to springboard into a presidential campaign for the 2023 Argentine elections. Notable moments in Milei's campaign included a viral video of him tearing cards from a wallboard with the names of ministries that he wants to abolish and tossing them into the air as he shouted ¡Afuera! ("Out!"), wielding a chainsaw in public (symbolizing his intention to cut down the size of government, which led to a lot of Chainsaw Man cosplayers at his rallies), and smashing a piñata with the shape of the Central Bank of Argentina to symbolize his plans to abolish it. In arguably less whimsical instances, however, he arose controversy for calling Pope Francis (a fellow Argentinian) "a filthy leftist", and while not praising the National Reorganization Process (the most recent military dictatorship in Argentina), he questioned the consensus of it having a toll of 30,000 disappeared, instead saying that the figure was closer to 8,700-8,800; and labeling the repression during it as a war between the state and terrorist groups in which "excesses" were made.
In the August 2023 primary elections (which, under Argentine law, are blanket primaries regardless of party affiliation, and thus are seen as an indication of how citizens are likely to vote in the general elections), Milei emerged as the leading candidate, ahead of the traditional center-left/left-wing Peronism–Kirchnerism led by former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and the center-right/right-wing Juntos por el Cambio coalition of former president Mauricio Macri, both of which had dominated the country in The New '10s; while it would be hard to imagine someone like Milei being even considered as president under normal circumstances, his appeal among the public grew following a very turbulent time in the 2010s that saw the aforementioned parties, which were in power interchangedly, involved in a never-ending economic crisis. On 22 October, Milei advanced to the runoff, in which he faced the Peronism–Kirchnerism candidate Sergio Massa, in what polls showed to be a tight race. Instead, in the runoff on 19 November, Milei defeated Massa in a landslide, with the highest percentage of the vote since Argentina's transition to democracy.note
Milei's rise to prominence led many people to consider him the Argentine equivalent to Donald Trump (some even noting that they share particular unorthodox hairstyles), and for a more geographically closer analogue, Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro. More closer observers have noted, however, that the resemblance to Trump largely has to do with them having colorful personas, and Milei's policies differ significantly from Trump's, with Trump being economically protectionist and nationalist, while Milei's policies are staunchly supportive of free trade, and as such, his policies have much more in common with those of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush than many would like to admit. And much like Trump and Bolsonaro, he is an extremely hot topic not just in Argentina but abroad too - with detractors viewing him as someone who threatens the working class of the country, while his supporters defend his policies, considering them the only solution to the country's long-running economic crisis, while a third camp, who at best don't necessarily believe he is the Worst Thing Ever™ to happen to Argentina like his detractors say and believe that his efforts to curb the crisis are honest, believe that his economic policies will backfire and further exacerbate the economic crisis rather than control it.
His foreign policy is staunchly pro-American and pro-Israel (to the point that, despite being raised Catholic, he has rigorously studied Judaism, to the point a possible conversion has been widely reported). Milei has also shown suspicion towards China, announcing that Argentina would leave the BRICS bloc (of which China is a member) just as Argentina gained accession to it.
In his late teens and early adulthood, Milei sang in a cover band that mostly played The Rolling Stones covers, and also played goalkeeper for the Chacarita Juniors football team, until Argentina's hyperinflation crisis in 1989 led him to commit to a career in economics.
Tropes associated with Milei:
- Character Catchphrase: "¡Viva la libertad, carajo!" Parodies of him have him repeat it without exception.
- Large Ham: Its distinctive hallmark. Part of why he gained attention as a political figure in the press and social media worldwide is the fact that he cultivated a very bombastic and over-the-top persona.
- Cold Ham: During his time as president, however, he has moderated his bombastic persona, becoming considerably more sober and serious, if still maintaining a dramatic flair.
- Sir Swears-a-Lot: Pre-Presidency, at least. Before winning the Presidential election, he was very foul-mouthed.
- Sophisticated as Hell: His appearances as a pundit on Argentine television had him quote authors such as Milton Friedman, Murray Rothbard and Robert Lucas, as often as he swears.
- Transatlantic Equivalent: He is portrayed in media as one of Donald Trump, for the hammy speech, unorthodox hairstyles, and their very controversial public image. However, he states that he identifies himself with Ronald Reagan.
Javier Milei has appeared in the following works:
Advertising- La Argentina de siempre is an political ad made by Milei for the 2021 Argentine legislative elections, in which he was elected deputy.
Films — Live-Action
- He shot a 30-min short film, Pandenomics, in preparation for the release of his book of the same name. While the film itself is largely Milei being interviewed and answering in a large Author Tract defining his beliefs, its opening and ending in particular have to be seen to be believed.
