Controversy in Argentina: An electoral body “liked” a post that called Milei a “fascist”

Just weeks before the second round of elections that will define the next president of Argentina, in which the choice is between the Peronist Sergio Massa and the libertarian Javier Milei, social networks caught the attention of local voters. It turns out that the National Electoral Chamber (CNE), a body dependent on the Judiciary that certifies the results of the elections, had "liked" a post that accused Milei, the libertarian candidate, of being "fascist."

The story began on November 4, when Milei's followers alerted that the official CNE account liked a post that said, "My stomach is in knots. Let's not let up, the danger is enormous. NO MILEI, NO MACRI, NO FASCISM."

Agustín Romo, a provincial deputy elected by Milei's party, La Libertad Avanza, released a video in which he shows the like on the account of the National Electoral Chamber. "Did the Electoral Chamber like an anti-Milei comment? Yes. Did the Electoral Chamber lie by saying it did not like an anti-Milei comment? Yes," he wrote to accompany the video.

Other activists reposted the situation on their accounts. Even Milei himself warned about the episode.

The CNE's response: "False information"

Without explaining what happened, the National Electoral Chamber (CNE) denied the information and indicated that they will begin the corresponding investigations to determine "the origin of the manipulation."

"As a result of the circulation of false information about this account, it is reported that the National Electoral Chamber does not apply 'Like' to any political message of any kind," they expressed, also on X.

"Investigations are being initiated to find out the origin of the manipulation of the false post," they added.

Jonatan Viale, a popular local journalist, uploaded the video to his networks and retorted the response of the state agency. "Now the Federal Chamber is lying saying that they did not like the anti-Milei post. I leave you the video that proves the like. They are so unreputable," he wrote, also on X.

What do the polls in Argentina say?

Despite the initial push by Massa, who started as a favorite after a surprise victory in the first round, the latest polls reflect a much more even scenario, even showing possible victories for the libertarian.

This was indicated by the latest work by Alta Intel, one of the pollsters that showed greater precision in the last elections. According to his work, Milei would become the next president of Argentina with 52% of the votes, surpassing by four percentage points the 48% of Sergio Massa, the current local Minister of Economy.