American Libertarians Celebrate the Election of Argentina’s Javier Milei

Over the weekend, Argentinians elected Javier Milei, the Partido Libertario leader and one-term Congressman known for his boisterous persona and vocal support of the Austrian school of economics, as their new president.

Milei, who has been leading the Economic Studies division at Fundación Acordar since 2012 and was previously involved with the B20 and the World Economic Forum, defeated Peronist Minister of Economics Sergio Massa with a margin of almost three million votes. His victory over Massa is Partido Libertario’s first presidential win and a break from a contemporary history primarily dominated by the Justicialist Party.

Data going into the election in Argentina showed that Milei’s candidacy was largely bolstered by young Argentinians, many of whom came to age during a period of significant economic distress. While on the campaign trail, Milei frequently utilized social media and focused on appealing to the anger and frustration of the youth.

Now, as Argentina prepares to move into an era with a political leader who promises “drastic” reforms and whose views challenge the predominant economic model of the country for most of its modern history, there is considerable speculation in the media as to what will happen next. However, while Milei’s win is making waves in his home country, it has also attracted the attention and excitement of another group: American Libertarians.

In the time leading up to and following the Argentinian presidential election, American Libertarians, including those involved with the leadership of the Libertarian National Committee, have vocally praised Milei for what his presidency could mean for the Argentinian people, as well as what it could mean for the global liberty movement.

Following Milei’s victory, Libertarian National Committee Chair Angela McArdle called his results a “strong rebuke against the failed policies of socialism” and added that his win indicates that it “won’t be long” until a libertarian can also win in the United States.

“Javier Milei’s win is a strong rebuke against the failed policies of socialism in Argentina,” the Libertarian Party’s official X account quoted McArdle as saying, “His election presents an exciting opportunity to restore sound economic policy and individual rights to his constituents. I congratulate him and wish him the best of luck with “smashing” the central banks and bureaucratic bloat of his country. If a libertarian can win in Argentina, it won’t be long until a libertarian can win in the United States.”

Several members of the Libertarian National Committee also echoed their support of Milei’s victory with their comments either shared on the official Libertarian Party X account or to the Libertarian National Committee’s internal business list.

For instance, Region 2 Representative Dave Benner called Milei’s victory a “huge beacon of hope for libertarians, regardless of location” before ending his thought and stating, “VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO!” Several members of the Libertarian National Committee remarked that history was made and Libertarianism had won the day.

Spike Cohen, the Libertarian Party’s most recent vice presidential nominee, additionally echoed his excitement for the election of Milei, calling it the “biggest thing to happen in the liberty movement in decades,” before stating his approval with “Viva La Libertad Carajo!”

Still, not all self-defined libertarians share the excitement of the Libertarian Party and its leadership. Libertarian media and policy organizations such as Reason have questioned the extent of Milei’s movement and his views aligned more closely with the culture war, asking whether it’s sincere or a “cult of personality in the name of liberty.”

“Milei offers a unique combination of national-Catholic populism and anarcho-capitalism,” two Reason authors wrote in the weeks leading up to the election. “[…] But his rhetorical style makes it hard to tell whether he would preserve a key principle of liberalism: the separation of power of the state from religion. Instead, Milei and his running mate, Victoria Villarruel, advocate for their union.”

The article further questioned Milei’s positions on reproductive health access and LGBTQ+ issues, noting that he and his running mate have referred to them as “cultural Marxism,” and highlighted accusations that Milei plagiarized his autobiography, allegedly copying passages from Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard. It’s worth noting that Reason has also remarked positively of Milei, with another author stating in the aftermath of his election that his policies could “turn Argentina’s economic fate around.”

Editorial note: Independent Political Report reports on social and political news involving emerging party and independent candidates and movements in the United States. On occasion, Independent Political Report will discuss global events and figures whose actions are relevant or influential to those topics within the United States.