Argentina swings right amid soaring inflation, elects populist Javier Milei

Milei’s opponent conceded Sunday night.

Published: November 19, 2023 7:26pm

Updated: November 19, 2023 7:33pm

Weary from suffocating inflation, Argentina’s voters elected conservative populist Javier Milei in an election Sunday that swung the Latin American country to the right after years of economic struggle and drew comparisons to Donald Trump’s win in 2016 in the United States.

Argentine electoral officials released partial results with nearly 87% of the vote counted showing Milei with 56% of the vote compared to economic minister Sergio Massa’s 44%.

Massa conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent, a conservative economist and TV personality who has promised a shake up government and embraced comparisons to Trump.

“Milei is the president elected for the next 4 years,” Massa said Sunday night.