The Times view on Argentina’s election: Don’t Cry for Me
The new president is determined to overturn decades of misgovernment
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Donald Trump was one of the first to congratulate Javier Milei on winning the presidency of Argentina, expressing confidence that the eccentric, radical libertarian, 53-year-old television pundit would turn around the country’s fortunes and Make Argentina Great Again. Mr Milei will however need more than Trumpian encouragement to reverse the decline of his country.
In the early 20th century Argentina was close to the top tier of rapidly expanding economies, full of productive immigrants from Spain and Italy, an exporter of grain and beef, innovative and entrepreneurial. After decades of misrule by Peronists and left-leaning Kirchneristas, the glory days have gone. The central bank is almost out of reserves, inflation is running at 140 per cent. The country signed its 22nd lifeline programme with the
