Argentina’s President Javier Milei has voiced support for Lionel Messi and his family following an act of vandalism at their Ibiza residence.
Milei has urged the Spanish authorities to ensure the safety of Argentine nationals after climate change activists targeted Messi’s €11 million home, defacing the property with red and black paint.
The vandals also posed in the garden holding a banner written in English that read: “Help the planet. Eat the rich. Abolish the police.”
Milei posted on X: “In Spain, communists who want to “murder the rich and abolish the police to end climate change” vandalized a home of Lionel Messi and his family.
“I stand in solidarity with the Messi family for this cowardly and delusional event and I ask Pedro Sanchez’s government to guarantee the safety of the Argentine citizens who live in the Kingdom of Spain.
“Communism is an ideology fostered by envy, hatred and resentment towards the successful. It has no place in the free and civilized world.”
Lionel Messi, who bought the luxury property in Ibiza in 2022 following his departure from Barcelona, was not present at the time of the vandalism.
He has used the home for vacations on the island.
The activists responsible for the attack described it as “non-violent civil disobedience,” aiming to hold wealthy individuals accountable for the climate crisis and criticize the Spanish government’s inaction.
They also claimed that Messi’s mansion was constructed “illegally.”
Currently, the Inter Miami star is recovering from an ankle injury he sustained during the recent Copa América.
Javier Milei is the provisional winner of the presidential elections in Argentina. He ran a loud and anti-establishment campaign, similar to that of former US President Donald Trump. This happened while Argentina had one of the highest inflation rates in the world.
His opponent Sergio Massa admitted defeat in a short speech on Sunday night, even before the official results were given. Massa said that Milei is going to be the president for the next 4 years. He also said that he called Milei to congratulate him.
Early results indicate that Milei has over 55% of votes (13,781,154) with almost 94% of votes counted. The National Electoral Chamber has not announced an official winner yet.
Milei won the election even though he was new to politics and promised change. This was a big change from the current situation.
His promise to use the US dollar in Argentina could make the country do something new. No other big country like Argentina has given control of its money to people in Washington before.
Not long after the results were told, Milei was met with loud cheers and clapping from his followers. He went on stage and gave an enthusiastic speech, promising to lead the country in a new direction politically.
“Today we start a new chapter in our history, and we go back to the right path that we should have never left,” said Milei. “Today we choose the path that helped this country become great again. ”
Milei is a person who is against abortion and doesn’t believe in climate change. He wants to cut government spending by getting rid of Argentina’s ministries of culture, education, and diversity, and cutting public subsidies.
“Let’s make Argentina better again. ” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, in response to Milei’s victory. “I am really happy with you,” he wrote.
Milei got a lot of attention because of his unique political style and his bold ideas that challenged the way things are usually done. He did some wild things like using chainsaws and getting really angry, which made people notice him.
In simple terms, Milei’s supporters are angry at politicians and want them all to leave, regardless of their political beliefs. They are using the slogan “May they all leave. ” to express their anger. Argentina’s current government is led by the left, after being ruled by the right from 2015 to 2019.
Apart from his plan to use the dollar, Milei wants to make gun control rules less strict and give control of the prisons to the military instead of civilians. He wants to be very tough on crime. He suggests using government money to help families who want to send their kids to private schools. And he also wants to make the health sector private, even though it has always been run by the government in Argentina.
Milei got in trouble for saying some things, but his biggest fans still support him. He caused a lot of anger when it seemed like Milei wanted to allow people to sell their organs, but he later took back what he said. In 2017, he had to say sorry for calling Pope Francis, who is from Argentina and is known for his liberal ideas in South America, “an envoy of Satan. ”
Milei’s surprising rise in politics will be watched closely internationally as a possible indication of a comeback of far-right populism in the area. Ex-President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, supported Milei’s candidacy. On the other hand, leaders from the left side in South America including current Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, broke the tradition of not getting involved and supported Massa in the election.
Massa, who has been a politician for a long time, came to symbolize Argentina’s political system during the race against Milei. Inflation was very high during his time as economy minister, at 142% each year. But Massa said the government’s actions were helping to reduce the problem. However, voters were not convinced and were tired of struggling to afford the cost of living.
Argentina is going to have an important election on Sunday to choose a new president. This election is considered to be one of the most democratic and unrestricted ones in many years. The consequences of a severe economic crisis have provided a perfect opportunity for an unconventional far-right candidate, who has distinctive and eccentric appearance, and a completely different way of governing the nation.
Javier Milei was not very well-known until recently. He is an economist, commentator, and loves rock music. He won the recent primaries and current polls show that he is leading in the first round on Sunday.
He really wants to make changes and he is very sure about it. At a campaign event, he used a chainsaw to show that he plans to cut spending to make Argentina’s economy better.
“We need someone from outside who is brave enough to confront the criminal organizations in our country,” states Alejandro Lazcano, a supporter waiting in line to attend Milei’s final campaign event six hours ahead of its scheduled start time. “Who actually has the courage to make the necessary changes. ”
Javier Milei, who is often compared to former US president Donald Trump, definitely says he will. He has expressed his desire to explode the central bank and bring in the dollar as the official money of the country in order to stop the high inflation, which is currently at more than 100%.
With Argentina on the verge of economic collapse, this message is understood by millions of people.
Benjamin Gedan, who leads the Wilson Centre’s Argentina Project, says that Milei’s strong candidacy represents the dissatisfaction of the local population with the government and its policies. This sentiment has been fueled by a decade of slow economic growth and the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy.
Voters are really interested in Milei’s plan to use the dollar as the national currency. They are prepared to stop using the peso completely, regardless of whether Milei can effectively start using the US currency.
A group of people who make popular videos on TikTok.
These promises are being talked about a lot, but if you go to the streets of Buenos Aires, it’s difficult to even know that he exists.
The walls and billboards have lots of posters with happy candidates asking people to vote. But no one has Javier Milei’s face on them.
And that’s because he’s working with a large group of popular social media users, who are sharing his message, mostly on TikTok.
Iñaki Gutierrez is part of a group. He is a 22-year-old student who studies law and economics. He viewed Brexit as a source of motivation for how to lead a political campaign.
“Iñaki says he saw a lot of campaigning on Facebook. He was amazed by the amount of money the Leave campaign had and how it influenced communication. ”
So he went to talk to Javier Milei and convinced him that it was important for him to have accounts on social media. Iñaki and his girlfriend are leading Javier Milei’s campaign on TikTok now. The couple also has a lot of fans.
A group of people who make popular videos on TikTok.
These promises are being talked about a lot, but if you go to the streets of Buenos Aires, it’s difficult to even know that he exists.
The walls and billboards have lots of posters with happy candidates asking people to vote. But no one has Javier Milei’s face on them.
And that’s because he’s working with a large group of popular social media users, who are sharing his message, mostly on TikTok.
Iñaki Gutierrez is part of a group. He is a 22-year-old student who studies law and economics. He viewed Brexit as a source of motivation for how to lead a political campaign.
“Iñaki says he saw a lot of campaigning on Facebook. He was amazed by the amount of money the Leave campaign had and how it influenced communication. ”
So he went to talk to Javier Milei and convinced him that it was important for him to have accounts on social media. Iñaki and his girlfriend are leading Javier Milei’s campaign on TikTok now. The couple also has a lot of fans.
However, Malena Haboba, who supports Massa, is feeling concerned about the future.
“According to her, if Milei becomes president, everything, including the simplest things, will be in danger. ” “I am concerned about women being punished for choosing to have an abortion – it could result in women being forced back into traditional household roles. ”
Javier Milei’s opponents are attempting to simplify and expose the political discussion by debunking the catchy phrases and false information that have influenced numerous political campaigns. And a lot of people are replying on TikTok, which is the platform his supporters are most familiar with.
Caro from the TikTok account @indisciplinadxs explains that their content aims to disprove unfounded ideas that are being spread in the media. They created the account in response to Javier Milei’s increasing popularity.
It is important for us to talk about Argentina’s political history, like the social and economic history. This helps us understand that what he is suggesting is not new, it has already been tried before and it did not work. It had a lot of negative effects on our country’s economy and society.
But if the surveys are accurate, voters are not concerned. As he spoke to a full stadium during his final campaign event on Wednesday, the crowd strongly connected with this unconventional politician wearing a worn leather jacket.
They raised their fists and shouted “Freedom” loudly, showing their excitement about what he promised in his campaign. In a country where many people have a hard time every day, the chance to try something completely different – even if it’s uncertain – is attractive.
A far-right politician known for his admiration of former US President Donald Trump, Javier Milei, has achieved a remarkable feat by securing the largest portion of votes in Argentina’s primary election.
This preliminary election, which involves candidates from all political parties, holds substantial significance as an indicator for the upcoming presidential election on October 22nd.
Surpassing expectations, Mr. Milei captured an impressive 30% of the votes, outshining more established political figures. This outcome has sent shockwaves through the Argentine media, aptly termed a “political earthquake.”
Argentina’s primary system differs from those of other nations, as it allows participation not only for party members but also for all eligible voters who can partake in the presidential election. Voting in these primaries is compulsory.
The candidate who garners the most votes in the primaries is often considered a front-runner for the main presidential election on October 22nd.
Preceding the primaries, opinion polls had placed Mr. Milei behind the center-left economy minister, Sergio Massa, and the conservative contender Patricia Bullrich.
However, with over 97% of the votes tallied, Mr. Milei secured 30.06% of the votes, leading Patricia Bullrich’s coalition with 28.27% and Sergio Massa’s coalition with 27.24%.
Newspaper La Nación likened Mr. Milei’s surge to a formidable tsunami.
Despite having served as a Congressman since 2021, Mr. Milei, a former TV personality, prefers to position himself as a political outsider.
IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES – Image caption: Javier Milei is often seen wearing his trademark leather jacket and sporting long sideburns
His anti-establishment perspective has resonated strongly with Argentine voters who are frustrated with both the present and past administrations for their inability to resolve the nation’s economic turmoil.
With an annual inflation rate exceeding 115%, a quarter of the population living in poverty, and the local currency, the peso, having plummeted to the extent that rival football fans mock Argentine supporters by tearing up peso bills, the discontent is palpable.
Mr. Milei has directed vehement criticisms towards his rivals hailing from entrenched political parties. In the aftermath of the primary, he addressed his enthusiastic supporters, proclaiming that they have crafted a viable alternative capable of dismantling the parasitic, corrupt, and ineffective political elite.
At 52 years old, he envisions the elimination of Argentina’s central bank, the substitution of the peso with the US dollar, and the privatization of state-owned entities running at a loss, if elected. His policy stance on loosening gun controls mirrors a page from the playbook of Brazil’s former far-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro.
Mr. Milei has vocalized his opposition to abortion unless the life of the mother is endangered, and he pledges to safeguard the lives of children from conception, forming a crucial part of his campaign agenda.
Expressing skepticism towards sex education in schools, branding it a strategy to dismantle the “traditional family,” and rejecting the concept of climate change, he portrays a unique and unorthodox image.
Sporting distinctive long sideburns, belting out rock anthems, and often donning a leather jacket, the deliberately provocative 52-year-old frequently launches expletive-laden tirades against “the left.”
His unexpectedly strong performance in the primary—exceeding opinion polls by 10 percentage points—prompted a further plunge in the peso’s value. As markets commenced on Monday, the official exchange rate plummeted by nearly 18%, settling just above 350 pesos per dollar.
Mr Milei’s success was celebrated rapturously by his supporters, whom he told: “We are the true opposition, we are the only ones who want a real change, because remember, a different Argentina is impossible with the same old people, with the same old people who have always failed, with the same old people who have been failing for 100 years.”
Following the recent primaries, the second and third place candidates, Patricia Bullrich and Sergio Massa, are now focusing on enhancing their positions in preparation for the initial round of the presidential election scheduled for October 22nd.
Should no candidate secure 45% of the votes or 40% with a lead of 10 percentage points, a second round will take place on November 19th between the top two contenders.
Given the slight margin of under four percentage points that separates the leading three candidates in the primaries, the likelihood of a second round is currently high.
Argentina is not the sole nation in the region where an anti-establishment candidate has disrupted the political landscape.
In Colombia’s 2022 election, independent contender Rodolfo Hernández unexpectedly took the lead in the initial round, only to be defeated by former left-wing rebel Gustavo Petro in the runoff.
Similarly, Chile saw far-right candidate José Antonio Kast secure the lead in the first round of the 2021 election, yet he was ultimately overcome by the left-wing former student leader Gabriel Boric in the subsequent round.
In Brazil, fervent supporters of the incumbent far-right figure, Jair Bolsonaro, disputed his narrow loss to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Their dissent culminated in a storming of Congress mere days after Lula da Silva’s inauguration on January 1st, 2023.
