Javier Milei is making headlines in Brazilian newspapers, often portrayed as a threat to Argentine democracy, despite a scenario of uncontrolled inflation reaching 160% per year and rising poverty rates, with 40% in child poverty and 60% in overall poverty. Could the election of the libertarian candidate really be the worst-case scenario for our neighbor? With this question in mind, I decided to speak with someone who is experiencing the Argentine election firsthand: Valentina Zenocrati. She is Argentine, lives in the province of Mendoza, is a 22-year-old economics student, and is a colleague of mine in the LOLA (Ladies of Liberty Alliance) movement, a global network of liberal women. Valentina is the leader of the Mendoza core and, dissatisfied with the current political landscape, decided to volunteer in Javier Milei’s campaign even before the primaries. Let’s explore what motivates her and how she perceives the whole process.
The first step to understanding her decision is to analyze the current scenario: Alberto Fernández, the current president, represents the continuation of Kirchnerism and Peronism, which have long negatively impacted Argentina. In Valentina’s view, the president, in addition to perpetuating populist measures adopted by previous leftist governments, also harmed the country with decisions made during the pandemic. Fernández was seen as the main culprit for the economic problems, imposing a prolonged quarantine that closed many businesses and caused Argentinians to suffer the consequences of his choices even today.
However, what increases Fernández’s chances of electing his successor is his extensive access to public resources and the state apparatus. This not only allows for the construction of a well-structured electoral campaign but also the financing of major media outlets to enhance his image and damage that of his opponent.
Based on this, Valentina considers the election of Sergio Massa an unimaginable disaster. She views him as an even more problematic figure than former president Cristina Kirchner, who was accused of money laundering and embezzlement on multiple occasions. According to the activist, Massa is a Machiavellian figure with no ethical limits, capable of doing anything to stay in power. She states that throughout Alberto Fernández’s presidency, Massa worked with a single goal: to position himself as the president’s successor. To achieve this, he used the Ministry to implement weak and populist measures, resulting in the highest inflation and poverty growth in the last 20 years. During the campaign, the situation is even worse; the term used by the Argentine was “fear campaign,” as it involves threats that citizens would lose their rights to education and public health if Javier Milei is elected. “If this is his campaign, I can’t imagine what his government would be like, as he is capable of anything to stay in power,” she concludes.
I then asked why Valentina decided to volunteer in Milei’s campaign, and this was the most emotional moment of our conversation. Valentina confessed that Argentinians are suffering greatly, especially since the pandemic. Poverty, inequality, and lack of security are ills that, according to her, can only be solved through politics. Valentina shared that since the worsening situation in Venezuela, it has been common to see Venezuelans seeking refuge in Argentina, fleeing from the dictatorial and oppressive government led by Maduro. However, what has been alarming her lately is the realization that some of these Venezuelans, who once saw Argentina as a hopeful place to build a new home, are now fleeing to Chile due to perceived similarities to their country of origin.
In an attempt to build a better future for her country, the most sensible alternative in her view was to support the libertarian candidate Javier Milei. Therefore, she has been involved in the cause since March 2022. Valentina is responsible for coordinating university activism and electoral oversight in the province of Mendoza. She leads efforts to ensure transparency and prompt delivery of voting results on election days, including the primaries, the first and second rounds. According to her, the integrity of the elections is a major concern in the country, and she is committed to doing everything in her power to ensure a transparent election.
Despite Milei finishing second in the first round, Valentina remains optimistic. According to her, the chances are high; in the last poll, the candidate was at approximately 50% of the votes. The activist also concludes that, due to Massa’s strong association with the continuation of Peronism, which carries a very negative image, a significant portion of Patricia Bullrich’s votes should be transferred to the libertarian candidate, which could ensure his victory. However, what worries her is the integrity of the election, so she is working hard on electoral oversight.
As for us Brazilians, we should not blindly believe what the headlines are telling us. But whenever possible, we should listen to our Argentine neighbors and hope that the election will be a beginning of hope for such a troubled country. Latin America faces severe democratic crises, and if Argentina can break free from the hegemony of leftist governments, it will be a significant victory.