Fiery right-wing populist Javier Milei wins Argentina’s presidency and promises ‘drastic’ changes

By DANIEL POLITI and DAVID BILLER
Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Right-wing populist Javier Milei will become the next president of Argentina after promising a dramatic shake-up to the state in a fiercely polarized election campaign held amid deep discontent over soaring inflation and rising poverty. With 99.4% of votes tallied in Sunday’s presidential runoff, Milei had 55.7% and Economy Minister Sergio Massa 44.2%, according to Argentina’s electoral authority. It is the widest victory margin in a presidential race since Argentina’s return of democracy in 1983. In his victory speech, the self-described anarcho-capitalist who has been compared to former U.S. President Donald Trump said the “reconstruction of Argentina begins today.”