By Harshit, October 27, 2025 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 11:30 AM
Argentina’s President Javier Milei has led his party La Libertad Avanza (Freedom Advances) to a sweeping victory in Sunday’s midterm elections, solidifying his grip on power after two turbulent years marked by harsh austerity measures, deregulation, and radical free-market reforms.
With nearly 41% of the national vote, Milei’s party captured 13 of the 24 Senate seats and 64 of the 127 contested lower-house seats, a historic surge that will significantly ease his ability to push forward with his controversial economic agenda. For a leader who once brandished a chainsaw at rallies to symbolize slashing government spending, the results represent both political validation and a new mandate for deeper reforms.
Milei’s Majority Reshapes Congress
Before the election, La Libertad Avanza held only seven Senate seats and 37 lower-house seats, forcing Milei to negotiate constantly with opposition blocs. Now, with his strengthened majority, he faces fewer barriers to enacting policies to cut public spending, reduce welfare programs, privatize state enterprises, and deregulate markets.
At a victory rally in Buenos Aires, Milei declared,
“We must consolidate the path of reform we have embarked upon to turn Argentina’s history around once and for all — to make Argentina great again.”
The phrase drew cheers from supporters waving Argentine flags, echoing his admiration for U.S. President Donald Trump, who congratulated Milei on social media.
“He’s making us all look good,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that Washington’s proposed $40 billion aid package for Argentina was contingent on Milei maintaining political momentum.
The statement has sparked debate in Argentina, with critics accusing Trump of foreign interference in the country’s domestic politics, while Milei’s allies saw it as a sign of strengthened U.S.-Argentine relations.
Supporters Rejoice as Critics Warn of Deepening Pain
Hundreds of jubilant Milei supporters gathered outside his campaign headquarters, chanting “¡Viva la libertad, carajo!” (Long live freedom, damn it!). Many expressed hope that his expanded mandate would accelerate Argentina’s turnaround.
“Milei didn’t have 15% of Congress in his favor. Now he’ll be able to change the country in a year,” said Dionisio, a young voter from Córdoba.
“Our province was devastated by previous governments. Now, thank God, freedom has won,” added Ezequiel, another supporter.
But not everyone is celebrating. For many Argentinians, Milei’s chainsaw economics have translated into painful realities. His cuts to education, health, pensions, and public infrastructure have led to job losses and declining living standards.
Juliana, who works with children with disabilities, fears renewed attacks on social spending.
“Our salaries are low, and everything else is rising. We still don’t see a real change,” she said.
Veronica, a retired police officer, described how Milei’s pension cuts have deepened poverty.
“It’s very hard: for retirees, for people with disabilities, for young people. Many factories have closed,” she told local reporters.
Economic Turmoil and U.S. Support
Milei’s reforms have won praise from global investors and free-market advocates for cutting the deficit and taming hyperinflation, which had surpassed 100% annually before he took office in 2023. But critics warn his aggressive fiscal tightening risks tipping Argentina into recession.
The peso remains overvalued due to heavy state support, and Argentina faces $20 billion in debt repayments next year, raising fears of a fresh financial crisis. Those concerns prompted the U.S. to back a $40 billion financial lifeline, combining currency swaps, dollar purchases, and private investment to stabilize the Argentine economy.
Trump, however, made the deal conditional on Milei’s continued dominance, reportedly warning,
“If he wins, we’re staying with him. If he doesn’t win, we’re gone.”
The alignment between the two populist leaders — both champions of nationalism, deregulation, and anti-establishment rhetoric — has become a defining feature of Argentina’s foreign relations.
Political Challenges Ahead
Despite his electoral triumph, Milei’s challenges remain formidable. Argentina’s 67.9% voter turnout, the lowest in decades, reflects widespread disillusionment with political elites. Corruption scandals and social unrest have tested Milei’s image as an outsider reformer.
Many middle- and working-class voters who reluctantly backed him see his reforms as necessary but painful.
“We’re on the right path, but people are suffering too much,” said Dardo, a small business owner in Buenos Aires.
Thiago, a political science student, echoed a common sentiment:
“We understand the need for fiscal balance, but hospitals, infrastructure, and education are being neglected. There’s a certain false hope.”
Still, the midterm results show that a majority of Argentines prefer Milei’s high-risk reform path over a return to the Peronist economic model that dominated the nation for decades.
Markets React and the Road Ahead
Financial markets are expected to rally in the wake of Milei’s decisive win, signaling renewed investor confidence that his reforms will continue. Analysts believe that the president’s expanded congressional power could accelerate deregulation, privatizations, and fiscal adjustments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, when Milei may seek a second term.
In his victory speech, Milei struck a defiant tone:
“Argentines showed that they do not want to return to the failed model — the model of inflation and the useless state. We choose freedom.”
For now, Argentina’s economic experiment remains alive — buoyed by U.S. backing, investor optimism, and a renewed political mandate. The real test will come in the months ahead, as citizens begin to feel whether Milei’s tough medicine brings long-term relief or deepens their suffering.