How much should Latin America and the rest of the world worry about Argentine President Javier Milei? This is the question many foreign-policy analysts are asking after the election of—in Argentine historian Federico Finchelstein’s words—“the world’s latest wannabe fascist.”
The self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist and climate-change denier has previously pledged to shutter Argentina’s central bank, dissolve the Mercosur trading bloc, and loosen gun laws. He also hopes to dollarize the Argentine economy. In this edition of Flash Points, journalists, academics, and experts weigh in on the Milei phenomenon and consider whether the far-right leader will actually be able to implement his most radical proposals.
Then-presidential candidate Javier Milei arrives at a closing rally ahead of the runoff election in Cordoba, Argentina, on Nov. 16, 2023.Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images
Javier Milei Is the World’s Latest Wannabe Fascist
Argentina’s new populist president takes after Trump and Bolsonaro by seeking to destroy democracy from within, Federico Finchelstein writes.
Argentine President Javier Milei gestures at the crowd from a balcony of the Casa Rosada presidential palace during his inauguration in Buenos Aires on Dec. 10, 2023.Emiliano Lasalvia/AFP via Getty Images
What Milei Means for Mercosur
The new Argentine president pledged to dissolve the trading bloc, Max Klaver writes. But what if he ends up saving it?
After winning the runoff election, then-President-elect Javier Milei speaks to supporters at his party headquarters in Buenos Aires on Nov. 19, 2023.Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images
Javier Milei’s Next Challenge: Governing Argentina
The messianic president may struggle to implement many of his most radical ideas, Oliver Stuenkel writes.
Members of leftist movements demonstrate during a protest against then-President-elect Javier Milei in Buenos Aires on Nov. 23, 2023. LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images
Will Milei Rewrite Argentina’s History?
The new Argentine president is downplaying the brutal legacy of the country’s dictatorship, Lautaro Grinspan writes.
Then-President-elect Javier Milei laughs with lawmakers at the National Congress for the official announcement of the final vote count in Buenos Aires on Nov. 29, 2023.Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images
What Milei’s Dollarization Plan Would Mean for Argentina’s Economy
FP’s Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze discuss the president’s plan to curb runaway inflation.