Argentina’s economy minister has won more than 36% of the vote in Sunday’s presidential elections, defying expectations. The election has been shaken by the emergence of anti-establishment populist and self-styled "libertarian" Javier Milei. Mr Milei is an outspoken right-wing economist whose "shock-jock" style and aggressive social media campaigning have appealed to younger voters. No candidate received the necessary 45% of votes needed to win outright, so there will be a second round on 19 November. The election comes amid a severe economic crisis - inflation is nearing 140% - 40% are living below the poverty line. Argentina is one of Latin America’s most stable democracies - but it remains the world's single biggest debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), owing $46bn (£38bn). Three-quarters of young Argentinians want to leave the country to look for better opportunities. What needs to happen to improve the country's prospects? And will the economic mess damage Argentina’s democracy? Shaun Ley is joined by: Natalie Alcoba, an Argentinean-Canadian journalist Ignacio Labaqui, senior analyst with Medley Global Advisors, which offers advice to clients on political risk Christopher Sabatini. he's Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, US and the Americas Programme at the Chatham House thinktank Also featuring: Marcela Pagano a newly elected member of the Argentine Congress for Javier Milei's La Libertad Avanza Gustavo Martínez Pandiani, Sergio Massa's principal foreign policy advisor and the Ambassador to Switzerland. Pau Bressi, a university student in Buenos Aires Produced by: Max Horberry and Ellen Otzen (Photo: Presidential candidate Javier Milei speaks after first round results, Buenos Aires, Argentina - 23 Oct 2023. Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
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And this week, Argentinians vote next month for their new president, a runoff that pitches the establishment against a radical voice who's upended the political scene, not least by wielding a chainsaw at his rallies.
He's Javier Milei, an admirer of Donald Trump who says he wants to slice government down to size, eliminating the political creeds of the recent past.
I want you to be aware that today we are facing the most important election of the last 100 years, an election that will ask us whether we want to continue with this model that Kirchnerism defends, or whether we want to return to the ideas and freedom that.
Made Argentina great in the 19th century.
His reference there to two recent presidents, Nestor and Cristina Kirchner.
The standard bearer of their politics is the current Economy Minister, Sergio Massa.
And it was he who topped the poll in the first round by offering, as this supporter explains, a better tomorrow.
We know we have some problems with the economy, but we are working on that.
We are working together with everyone who is ready to understand the gravity of the situation.
Argentina needs to understand as well that we have what the world is asking now, proteins, energy, copper, lithium.
And we are absolutely sure that if we do the right things, we going to be okay in two, three years.
Supporters of Mr.
Millet say they are delighted he did so well in round one and all is to play for in the runoff.
We are not Peronists, we are not radicales, and we are a new force.