Argentine president-elect Javier Milei greets supporters after winning Argentina鈥檚 runoff presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 19, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Sille
The victory of Argentina鈥檚 libertarian President-elect Javier Milei at the weekend has sparked mixed reactions worldwide 鈥� including hostility from some Latin American leftists, tentative support from others, and a pledge from China to work with him despite his critical comments.
Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist, channeled voter anger over a deep economic crisis and years of economic dysfunction to win by double-digits in Sunday鈥檚 runoff vote.
The former television pundit is set to take the reins of power next month, moving Argentina decisively away from the center-left Peronist government of outgoing President Alberto Fernandez.
Asked for his reaction on Tuesday, Mexico鈥檚 leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he respected the voters鈥� verdict, but added that he believed Milei鈥檚 win is unlikely to alleviate Argentina鈥檚 problems.
鈥淭his is something we don鈥檛 think will help,鈥� Lopez Obrador told reporters. He later applied a soccer term to describe the outsider鈥檚 victory: 鈥淚t was an own goal.鈥�
搁贰础顿:听
Bolivia鈥檚 former leftist President Evo Morales, a close ally of past Peronist governments in Buenos Aires, took to social media on Tuesday to assert that he would never 鈥渨ish success to fascism, ultra-conservatism and neoliberalism.鈥�
The leftist leaders of Venezuela and Colombia also lamented Sunday鈥檚 election results. Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the outcome in a post on X as 鈥渟ad for Latin America.鈥�
But other leftist Latin American leaders were more supportive. Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Brazil鈥檚 President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva both extended best wishes to Milei.
Lula鈥檚 congratulations came despite Milei鈥檚 harsh criticism of the Brazilian leader on the campaign trail, where at one point Milei labeled Lula an 鈥渁ngry communist鈥� and corrupt.
鈥淒emocracy is the voice of the people, and it must always be respected,鈥� Lula said on social media on Sunday. However, a close aide to Lula said Milei had offended Brazil鈥檚 leader and owed him an apology before any talks could start.
Others outside the region for whom Milei has shown little friendship were also diplomatic.
READ:
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Milei, mostly shrugging off his past support for Ukraine in its war with Moscow, as well as indications Argentina will not join the Russia-backed BRICS grouping under Milei鈥檚 leadership.
鈥淲e will focus on and judge (Milei) mainly by the statements that he makes after the inauguration,鈥� said the Kremlin鈥檚 spokesman.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing was ready to work with Argentina to 鈥渒eep relations on a steady course鈥� despite some critical comments from Milei鈥檚 team during campaigning.
Milei found enthusiastic support among right-wing populists, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, who told Milei in a video to 鈥渕ake Argentina great again,鈥� and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who Lula narrowly defeated last year.
鈥淚鈥檓 really happy,鈥� Bolsonaro gushed in video footage of a call with Argentina鈥檚 next president. 鈥淵ou have a big job ahead of you 鈥� and it鈥檚 a job that goes beyond Argentina,鈥� said Bolsonaro, while pumping his fist in the air.
The leader of Spain鈥檚 far-right Vox party congratulated Milei, while Chile鈥檚 right-wing opposition leader Jos茅 Antonio Kast heralded his 鈥渞esounding victory.鈥�
El Salvador鈥檚 President Nayib Bukele, who also rode a wave of popular discontent to office, reacted with a riff on the song 鈥淒on鈥檛 Cry for Me Argentina鈥� from the musical 鈥淓vita.鈥� But he gave it a positive spin.
鈥淣ow say it without crying,鈥� Bukele wrote in a post on X.