Milei's far-right party wins Argentina's midterm elections - though falls short of a congressional majority
The party of Argentina’s far-right president, Javier Milei, has won Sunday’s midterm elections after a campaign in which Donald Trump announced a US$40 billon bailout for the country and made continued aid conditional on a victory by the current ruling party.
Trump's threats led much of the left-wing opposition to accuse Milei of using the fear of a financial debacle that could result from the sudden sale of some US$2 billion in pesos the U.S. Treasury purchased in October - an apparently successful gambit.
The result, however, fell short of giving Milei a congressional majority: His far-right coalition added a net 34 seats, for a total of 108 - still short of the 129 needed for an outright majority.
The opposition Homeland Strength (FP) and affiliated parties in 11 provinces - whose total Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos excluded during his announcement of preliminary results last night despite a court order enjoining him against doing so - retained its 101 seats.
The LLA coalition also trounced the opposition in Senate races, winning a net 11 seats for a total of 25, with FP losing 6 seats and left with 28 - both short of the 37 needed for an outright majority.
The nationwide Lower House vote gave Milei's Liberty Forward (LLA) coalition 40.7% of the vote, to the center-left Homeland Strength's 34.8% - surprising many analysts given the ongoing recession and a series of scandals including crypto and kickback schemes involving Milei's sister (and Chief of Staff) Karina Milei, and ties to drug trafficking on the part of two LLA candidates.
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An exultant Argentine President Javier Milei celebrates last night's unexpectedly strong showing in midterm elections.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to rescind a $20 billion U.S. Treasury bailout likely influenced a last-minute choice by voters - who reversed a 6-point deficit for Milei in election-eve polling.
Though the addition of 34 seats in the Lower House and 11 seats in the Senate greatly enhanced Milei's congressional sway - his far-right coalition still fell short of a majority in either house.
The president's penchant for alienating center-right potential allies in Congress, moreover, likely means that he will continue to govern as he has since being elected two years ago: largely by decree, and without a federal budget.
