Argentina goes to polls amid currency crisis, scandal and American threats

Voters in Argentina will deliver their verdict on their radical libertarian president, Javier Milei, tomorrow, in midterm elections informed by political and economic crisis and accusations of foreign meddling levelled by Milei's ally Donald Trump.

- Facundo Iglesia Buenos Aires Tom Phillips Rio de Janeiro

A poor showing would be a severe blow to Milei, 55, who took power in December 2023 pledging to kickstart “a new era of peace and prosperity” by slashing spending and inflation.

The former TV celebrity has had some success in taming triple-digit inflation, but in recent months he has been hit by crises, including a selloff of Argentina’s currency, the peso, and corruption scandals involving his sister and chief-of-staff, Karina Milei, and another close ally who was linked to an alleged drug trafficker.

In August, Milei was pelted with stones by angry voters and last month his party, La Libertad Avanza, suffered a stinging defeat in the provincial election in Buenos Aires, where 40% of Argentina’s 45 million citizens live.

Trump, who is Milei’s most powerful foreign friend, has thrown him a lifeline in the form of an aid package that could total $40bn (£30bn). But even Trump painted a dire picture of the South American country’s stagnating economy last week, telling reporters: “Argentina is fighting for its life ... They are dying.”