Argentina’s Milei Anticipates 2025 Election Shakeup at Party Launch, Reports Reuters

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentine President Javier Milei announced on Saturday his plans to transform the country’s midterm legislative elections scheduled for next year, during a rally marking the national launch of his political party amid Argentina’s severe economic crisis.

Winning the 2025 elections would empower Milei’s libertarian party, La Libertad Avanza (Liberty Advances), which currently holds a minority in both chambers of Congress, limiting its ability to pass legislation critical to its agenda.

“We have launched the national party,” Milei declared. “From this point on, we will only have good news. In 2025, we will make a significant impact in the elections.”

Milei made a dramatic entrance at the rally held in Lezama Park in downtown Buenos Aires, navigating through crowds of thousands of supporters while singing a rock song on stage.

The political outsider, who took office in December, criticized the political establishment, referring to it as a “caste,” and called journalists “corrupt” and “pieces of excrement.”

Many of his supporters dressed as lions, which is Milei’s symbol, while others carried cardboard chainsaws, which he used during his campaign to signify his commitment to reducing the size of the government.

Since assuming office, Milei has implemented substantial spending cuts as part of a strict austerity strategy aimed at controlling the highest inflation rate in the world. However, poverty rates have increased significantly under his administration, rising by more than 10 percentage points to nearly 53%.