Mr Milei’s rival, economy minister Sergio Massa, called him to concede.

Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Mr Milei on his victory, saying he would “Make Argentina Great Again!”.

The election comes at a difficult time for Argentina with rising inflation and an economy in crisis on peoples’ minds.

Mr Milei’s proposals, which included detonating the central bank, won support with voters desperate for change…

  • cyd@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Argentina’s been so wrecked by the Peronists that this is the one place in the world where bringing in a “hard right” president may not be a bad thing. Milei probably doesn’t have the right personality, or enough backing in the legislature, to have a successful presidency. But the alternative was worse.

    • logicbomb@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Germany was so wrecked by World War 1 that some people might have thought bringing in a “hard right” chancellor might not be a bad thing.

      What is it they say about those who don’t learn from history?

      • cyd@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        1930s Germany isn’t always the best analogy for every situation anywhere, anytime. For one thing, the Weimar government was actually doing a decent job of rebuilding its economy after the war; they were kneecapped by the onset of the Great Depression, which was not their fault. Without Hitler, Germany would have eventually turned the corner and headed for economic prosperity.

        In Argentina’s case, the problems are the direct result of the Peronists’ decades-long dominance, and their uncanny ability to adopt every single bad idea on the economic left. Without getting rid of them, there’s no future for the country.

        • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          How do you think people who are otherwise intelligent fail to learn from history?

          If you don’t have an answer, you’re not smart enough to learn from anything, let alone history.

          • ANIMATEK@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            The comparison is absurd. Argentina is plagued by a political ideology that has been there for around 100 years and it is the only reason why the economics always fail. The only way to break the cycle is a complete revision. I don’t really like Milei, but the alternative is the same dead horse from the last century. Comparing this to Germany electing Hitler is shortsighted because the only similar things are crisis + big savior leader. I am watching closely what Milei will do, but he has promised in his winning speech to abide by the rule of law.

            I dare to say you are someone sitting in a first world country pretending to understand the situation here. I invite you to read what happened under his opponent only in the last year. People are getting poorer by the week.

            Milei might not be the best out there, but he’s the best chance we have for fresh start.

            • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Once again, you are demonstrating how people fail to learn from history. “It cannot happen here.” is RIDDLED throughout history from writings of those who chose to stand aside for dictators and other authoritarians. Do you think every single one of them didn’t have valid seeming reasons to dismiss the seemingly pessemistic view? “Yea it kiiinda’ looks the same, but it cannot happen because the specifics are all different!”

              I heard this CONSTANTLY from Hillary and Bernie or Bust people. “It cannot happen.” Yea sure, buddy. Keep assuming most people are logical, see how that plays out. I desperately hope I do not get to say, “I told you so” yet again some day.

          • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Because the vast majority of people aren’t intelligent. Most people barely subsist in western society, let alone take the time to study history and politics, let alone stay up to date on current events.

    • MudMan@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Just once I wish Argentina chose to not be a cautionary tale.

      But since we’re here, Americans should watch this space very carefully during the next year or so.

      • CALIGVLA@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        I feel like Americans know very well how this ends after living with Trump for 4 years… The ones that should’ve known better were the Argentinians.

        • MudMan@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          You would think, but then you look at the polls.

          To be clear, I don’t think it was worth doing this to Argentina just to have a visual aid for US elections. I’m just looking for silver linings here.

          And even those I’m not super hopeful for. You’d think Argentina would have looked at Trump and Bolsonaro themselves. But nope. It seems every country needs to try the “at least the far right nutcase isn’t like the boring guys who brought us to this point” thing. Sometimes multiple times.

          • Fades@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Those polls are fucking bullshit, especially for a lot of demographics like younger generations and also it’s a fucking long way away still.

            If you’re looking to draw conclusions based on that trash you may as well just ask any goddamn child; neither represent fact or reality

            • MudMan@kbin.social
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              1 year ago

              Mkay.

              As long as you redirect that rage towards voting for whoever runs against Trump I don’t much care what motivates you.

      • floofloof@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        Americans already had the chance to learn from Trump and Bolsonaro. Those who support Trump are not interested in reality.

    • Diplomjodler@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      Sure, fascism is totally a solution. Worked every time it’s been tried so far, right?

          • racsol@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            I like this list a lot. I’m actually going to bookmark it.

            From that article:

            Eco reduces the qualities of what he calls “Ur-Fascism, or Eternal Fascism” down to 14 “typical” features.

            Which of those 14 typical features you see in Milei’s movement to call it fascism? Because I see none, honestly.

            Edit: Grammar errors.

            • Fades@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              you see none? Maybe open your fucking eyes

              From the get go, it’s a populist figure that rails against the left (so he’s a traditionalist attacking “modern depravity”)

              He campaigned hard on financial inequality and frustration

              Sometimes dubbed “El Loco” (the madman) by his critics, Mr Milei has promised drastic changes, which include ditching the local currency, the peso, for the US dollar and “blowing up” the central bank in order to prevent it from printing more money, which he argues is driving inflation.

              Not so bad, right?

              He has also proposed cutting welfare payments and slashing bureaucracy by closing the ministries of culture, women, health and education, among others

              Not so good either. I’d say that is approaching this point:

              Appeal to social frustration. “One of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.”

              Which again is fine given the context, but it doesn’t stop there.

              Next we have,

              This model of decadence has come to an end. There is no turning back," he told his supporters in his victory speech, promising a new era for Argentina.

              On social issues, he wants to loosen gun laws, abolish abortion - which was legalised in Argentina in 2020 - and allow the sale and purchase of human organs.

              He believes selling human organs should be legal, climate change is a “socialist lie,” sex education is a ploy to destroy the family…

              Which leans towards

              The cult of tradition. “One has only to look at the syllabus of every fascist movement to find the major traditionalist thinkers. The Nazi gnosis was nourished by traditionalist, syncretistic, occult elements.”

              The rejection of modernism. “The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity. In this sense Ur-Fascism can be defined as irrationalism.”

              And

              Machismo and weaponry. “Machismo implies both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality.”

              Especially since

              He’s denied the existence of a gender pay gap, despite statistics that suggest women in the country earn 27% less than men, and has been accused of ignoring the existence of gender violence and discrimination in a country where one woman was murdered every 35 hours on average last year.

              The election saw a shift in tone that could have far-reaching effects, said Claudia Laudano, a researcher and professor of feminist studies at the University of La Plata. “The legitimacy of all the work we have been carrying out for so long is being put into question, and that is very worrying,” she said.

              And lastly:

              His choice of Victoria Villarruel as his vice-presidential running mate shocked human rights campaigners in the country, in which 30,000 people were killed or forcibly disappeared under military rule from 1976 to 1983. Ms Villarruel, who comes from a military family, has defended officers convicted of crimes against humanity and proposed dismantling a museum which commemorates victims of Argentina’s military junta.

              Would seem to fall under this point

              Contempt for the weak. “Elitism is a typical aspect of any reactionary ideology.”

              Especially since it doesn’t end there:

              Victoria Villarruel, Javier Milei’s running mate who vindicates the dictatorship and opposes abortion and gay marriage. The daughter, niece and granddaughter of soldiers who participated in Argentina’s last military dictatorship (1976-1983), the vice presidential candidate is stirring up the culture wars on behalf of her country’s extreme-right

              So between the two of them there appears to be plenty of fascistic bullshit to go around. None, my ass; no shit he ain’t Mussolini but his whole campaign reeks of fascism regardless

              • SCB@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Largely agree with your general thrust but this

                From the get go, it’s a populist figure that rails against the left (so he’s a traditionalist attacking “modern depravity”)

                Is not what this means. Think “return to monke” kind of shit. Memes about white children in church clothes while their straight white parents grill.

      • cyd@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That was fake news; he had a bad signal in his earpiece during an interview. Milei has enough wacky qualities (like whatever the hell is going on with him and his dogs) without dipping into misinfo.

    • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I assure you, at no point in human history, has anyone on the right ever acted for the good of the average citizen.