Milei and Massa exchanged blows in Argentina's last presidential debate: "If you were Pinocchio, you would have already hurt my eye"

Days before the second round of elections that will define the next president of Argentina, candidates Sergio Massa faced each other in the last electoral debate. The libertarian and the Peronist sparked each other from the Law School at the University of Buenos Aires, from where each tried to convince voters to elect them next Sunday, November 19.

After the general elections in October, Massa, the current Minister of Economy, was the candidate with the most votes, with 36% of the votes, seven points ahead of Milei, who garnered 29% of the votes. Since neither met the requirements to win in the first round, both advanced to the November 19 runoff, where whoever gets more votes than the other will become the next president of Argentina.

The debate, which lasted almost two hours, saw Massa with the clear strategy of leaving his rival as someone unqualified to occupy the presidency and of maximizing the so-called "campaign of fear" against the libertarian's proposals.

Contrary to what one might think beforehand, Milei found himself more defensive, having to clarify his positions on some issues. However, he did not miss opportunities to punish the management of the government of which his rival is a part.

Economy

The candidates began talking about the economy, a topic in which Massa accused his rival of wanting to eliminate subsidies, raising living costs, and expressed his strategy with a series of yes or no questions.

In addition, he attacked Milei's dollarization, a proposal that he described as "an appropriation of savings," and insisted that he is the most presidential of the two candidates. Massa managed to speak as little as possible about his management and, as is said locally, "passed the ball" to his rival.

Milei, who introduced himself as a "mathematical economist specialized in growth," stated that Argentina has been in "100 years of decline." He spoke of poverty and inflation and was against the "caste model," according to him, embodied by Massa. He mentioned when passing on the macroeconomic data since Massa came to government in 2022, which he summarized in the following phrase: "Look at the misery you generated ."

The economist insisted on his idea of closing the central bank to "eliminate the cancer of inflation" and, when his opponent tried to highlight his aggressive characteristics when it came to debate, he said he "expressed with passion the indignation generated by having a government that ruins everyone."

"This thing about breaking up videos to generate lies... I understand that the fear campaign works for you, but stop lying to people. (...) If you were Pinocchio, you would have already hurt my eye," he said.

International relations

This bloc developed almost exclusively on relations with the Vatican, the situation in the Malvinas Islands and trade relations.

Regarding the first point, Massa highlighted the role of Pope Francis, committed to working for him to visit the country in 2024, and recalled the sayings of Alberto Benegas Lynch (h), a Milei representative, who suggested that they should "suspend relations with the Vatican." Regarding the Malvinas, he accused Milei of not caring about the fight for sovereignty, first for his praise of Margaret Thatcher, whom the Peronist defined as an "enemy" of the country, and then for his statements about the will of the islanders.

Regarding trade, he said that he would negotiate with all countries, contrasting with Milei's proposal that looks at China and Brazil. "That's why people are afraid of you," Massa continued.

Milei confessed that he apologized to Pope Francis after the aforementioned comments and acknowledged that he would intend to receive him with "all the honors" he deserves. Regarding commercial relations, he spoke of very close relations with the United States, Israel and the West, which would coincide with an Argentina open to international trade and integrated into the world.

Health and education

Again, Massa sought to generate fear around Milei and repeatedly asked him what he would do with universities and public schools. "In the face of the campaign of lies to which we have been subjected, I want to clarify that health and education will continue to be public. Argentina is a federal country; therefore, it is not the Executive's decision whether or not it is public because it depends on the provinces," Milei responded.

Not happy with this response, the Minister of Economy looked directly at the camera and told the voters, "This man is going to pay for the university."

Production and work

Massa stated that he plans to be the "labor president," heading towards 2 million new jobs, something that seemed very serious to Milei.

"I find it nice that Minister Massa discusses creating 2 million jobs. The number of employees in the private sector has stagnated since 2011, as has the level of production," the libertarian shot.

In addition, Milei promised to reduce the number of ministries and create one of Human Capital, with which he intends to promote his productive agenda. He talked about lowering taxes and reducing inflation.

"Argentines have to choose whoever has the temperance, the ability, the mental balance and the contact with reality," retorted the former national deputy.

Security

Perhaps the only point both candidates agreed on is that they are committed to fighting crime and insecurity in Argentina. Milei referred to Argentina as a "bloodbath" as a result of the fact that the "criminal is seen as a victim," which is why he will promote a policy of "he who does it pays."

He proposed taking the example of New York City and spoke of Rudy Giuliani's management. He then described criminal activity in Argentina as "very profitable," given the low percentage of convictions.

Massa relied on his management as mayor of Tigre, which was praised by Giuliani himself, and spoke about the technology applied to reduce crime, so he hopes to be able to work with the governors to use it in the rest of the country.

Although Milei recognized his rival's management in Tigre as "good" regarding security, he spoke of reforming the Penal Code and the prison system.

Democratic coexistence and human rights

After Massa's first presentation, Milei reminded him of the history of Peronism when it was not its turn to be in power. "I find it funny to hear Sergio talk about democratic coexistence. To think that it belongs to a space that gave Alfonsín 14 strikes, that kicked out De la Rúa to overturn convertibility, that has made democracy a failed democracy," he retorted.

"With that perverse logic during Kirchnerism, we were on the verge of a civil war with the 125, or the chaos they did with the memorandum with Iran, with what has to do with the death of Nisman shortly after testifying against the head of your state, your boss," he added, referring to Cristina Kirchner.

"Why do you want to be president?"

That was the last slogan of the night, in which both candidates could argue what motivates them to reach the Casa Rosada. The first turn was given to Massa, who first recalled his origins and then explained his agenda in more detail.

"I want to be president so that our workers can recover their income, so that our SMEs can gain a market in the world so that our kids continue going to public universities, but above all, so that our mothers and women can enter the job market without fear and without discrimination. I want to be president because I have children to whom I want to leave a country much better than the one I lived in. And I want to be president to overcome this crisis that we Argentines have had to experience. Understanding that the moment of growth is coming," Massa began.

"Argentines, we face the most important election in the last 100 years. Especially in these 40 years of democracy that we have. It is time to ask ourselves if we want to continue traveling on this decadent path that makes us more miserable every day, increasingly poor and destitute, where children have to leave the country to look for a future, a country condemned to misery. That is why I ask you that when evaluating your vote, you ask yourself if you prefer inflation over stability, this decline in production and employment or economic growth, if you want to continue supporting this stupid, corrupt, parasitic and useless political caste that all it does is destroy our generation of wealth and sink us further and further. Basically, I'm asking you if you want to choose between the populism that is sinking us and the republic. (…) I want you to have a light of hope, there is a better Argentina, but that better Argentina is only possible if it is liberal," stated Milei.