Javier Milei was chosen as the next president of Argentina. The libertarian achieved a resounding victory against the Peronist Sergio Massa and will arrive at the Casa Rosada on December 10. Although the polls suggested that it would be a very close election, the economist won with 55% of the votes, against 44% for his rival. Minutes after the announcement, international reactions began to arrive, ranging from world leaders and ambassadors to Elon Musk.
The Peronist Massa was quick to congratulate the libertarian. Before 8:30 p.m. (local time), the Peronist candidate took the stage and acknowledged defeat. “I have contacted Javier Milei to congratulate him and wish him luck because he is the president that the majority of Argentines chose for the next four years,” he expressed, to the dismay of his followers.
"We have also presented to the president-elect and the president of the Nation the responsibility of putting in place liaison and transition mechanisms tomorrow for democratic change so that Argentines in the next 19 days have no doubts or uncertainties regarding the normal functioning of the economy: social, political and institutional,” he added.
Reactions to Javier Milei's victory
Donald Trump congratulated the new president of Argentina on his social networks. "Congratulations to Javier Milei on a great race for President of Argentina. The whole world was watching! I am very proud of you. You will turn your Country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again!" the Republican candidate posted on his Truth Social account.
Trump, en Truth Social:
“Felicitaciones a Javier Milei por una gran carrera para Presidente de Argentina. ¡El mundo entero estaba mirando! Estoy muy orgulloso de ti. ¡Darás un giro a tu país y verdaderamente harás que Argentina vuelva a ser grande!” pic.twitter.com/7M8vqjJMfT
— nico (@nico__nd) November 20, 2023
One of the first to speak out was the president of Brazil, Lula da Silva, who had sent his explicit support for Sergio Massa. "Democracy is the voice of the people and must always be respected. My congratulations to the Argentine institutions for conducting the electoral process and to the Argentine people who participated in the election day in an orderly and peaceful manner," wrote the Brazilian president, who leads Argentina's main trading partner.
"I wish luck and success to the new Government. Argentina is a great country and deserves all our respect. Brazil will always be available to work alongside our Argentine brothers and sisters," he added.
A democracia é a voz do povo, e ela deve ser sempre respeitada. Meus parabéns às instituições argentinas pela condução do processo eleitoral e ao povo argentino que participou da jornada eleitoral de forma ordeira e pacífica.
Desejo boa sorte e êxito ao novo governo. A…
— Lula (@LulaOficial) November 19, 2023
On the other side of Brazilian politics, Jair Bolsonaro congratulated Milei with more enthusiasm and dared to predict that Trump will return to the White House in 2024.
- Parabéns ao povo argentino pela vitória com @JMilei . A esperança volta a brilhar na América do Sul.
- Que esses bons ventos alcancem os Estados Unidos e o Brasil para que a honestidade, o progresso e a liberdade voltem para todos nós.
- Jair Bolsonaro.
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) November 19, 2023
Minutes later, Marc Stanley, U.S. ambassador of the United States in Argentina, spoke. Attaching a photo with the new president, he sent his best wishes from the North American government.
"Congratulations to Javier Milei and the Argentine people! We look forward to working together on shared priorities that benefit the people of our two countries, including protecting human rights and democracy, combating climate change, improving the investment climate and investing in the middle class," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
¡Felicitaciones a Javier Milei @JMilei y al pueblo argentino! Esperamos trabajar juntos en las prioridades compartidas que benefician a la gente de nuestros dos países, incluyendo la protección de los derechos humanos y la democracia, la lucha contra el cambio climático, la… pic.twitter.com/jH7C22paH0
— Embajador Marc R. Stanley (@USAmbassadorARG) November 19, 2023
One of the most viral reactions was that of Elon Musk. The businessman responded to a user's post and noted that "Prosperity is ahead for Argentina."
Prosperity is ahead for Argentina
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 19, 2023
The United Kingdom also expressed itself about the libertarian triumph, through the word of ambassador Kirsty Hayes. "Congratulations to the elected president, Javier Milei, for the victory and to all the Argentine people for having exercised their democratic rights in an exemplary manner. We are ready to work together with your government to strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and Argentina," she published.
Felicitaciones al presidente electo @JMilei por el triunfo y a todo el pueblo argentino por haber ejercido sus derechos democráticos de forma ejemplar.
Estamos listos para trabajar junto a su gobierno en el fortalecimiento de la relación entre el Reino Unido 🇬🇧 y la Argentina 🇦🇷.— Kirsty Hayes (@AmbKirstyHayes) November 19, 2023
Gustavo Petro, the leftist president of Colombia took a more negative view and directly lamented Milei's triumph. " The extreme right has won in Argentina; it is the decision of its society. Sad for Latin America and we will see.. Neoliberalism no longer has a proposal for society, it cannot respond to humanity's current problems," he wrote.
Ha ganado la extrema derecha en Argentina; es la decisión de su sociedad. Triste para América Latina y ya veremos... el neoliberalismo ya no tiene propuesta para la sociedad, no puede responder a los problemas actuales de la humanidad. https://t.co/TCqBPLSkkO
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) November 19, 2023
Cold reception from the current president
Alberto Fernández, who must hand over the presidential baton on December 10, made a post on his social networks in which he did not congratulate the winner.
"The people have expressed their will. Millions of Argentinean men and women went to vote and defined the destiny of the country for the next 4 years. I am a man of democracy, and I value nothing more than the people's choice. I trust that tomorrow we can start working with Javier Milei to guarantee an orderly transition," he expressed, and then recognized the work of Sergio Massa.
Soy un hombre de la democracia, y nada valoro más que el veredicto popular. Confío en que mañana mismo podamos empezar a trabajar con Javier Milei para garantizar una transición ordenada.
— Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) November 19, 2023
Vivek Ramaswamy: "May the spirits of Mises and Hayek be with you"
The Republican candidate for president recorded a video on the triumph of Milei, whom he congratulated on the victory. "Just a century ago, Argentina was one of the ten wealthiest countries in the world. Today's Argentina suffers 124% inflation and loses economic migrants to other countries. Congratulations to Javier Milei. Now the hard part begins. May the spirits of Mises and Hayek be with you," said Ramaswamy.
Just a century ago, Argentina was one of the ten wealthiest countries in the world. Today’s Argentina suffers 124% inflation & loses economic migrants to other countries. Congratulations to Javier Milei. Now the hard part begins. May the spirits of Mises & Hayek be with you. pic.twitter.com/UVZVcZtI1e
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 20, 2023
