Is this Argentina’s Libertarian Moment?

Javier Milei’s success in this week’s presidential election in Argentina is encouraging for several reasons. As Cato’s Ian Vasquez observes, Milei’s Libertad Avanza won seats across most electoral districts and has wide support with the young and among different socio-​economic classes. The popular rallies celebrating Milei’s win, and the repeated calls for libertad in the streets of Argentina are heart-​warming and inspire hope. This brings us to another critical point: Milei has not been coy or ambiguous in stating his principles and policy suggestions. He is, to the contrary, unreserved in celebrating freedom as a necessary precondition for prosperity, individual dignity, and human flourishing. He promotes free markets and open trade, the rigorous defense of private property, the rule of law, sound money, peace, and small government. All of these ideas and principles have been in the open and have been central to Milei’s campaign—and they are all mainline libertarian principles. Could it mean that the people of Argentina understand that a classically liberal or libertarian approach to governance may be the way to recover the country’s hope and prosperity? Could it be that people in many places are sympathetic to these principles, and will support them if a charismatic candidate openly promotes them as both beneficial and viable?

Also encouraging is that Libertad Avanza won a clear majority despite the international press mislabeling Milei as “far-​right,” obfuscating his ideas with obtuse comparisons to figures like Trump, who endorsed few libertarian principles. In addition, because statist leaders like Lula in Brazil and Petro in Colombia openly supported Milei’s opponent, the Peronist finance minister Sergio Massa, Milei’s victory has broader regional implications. Cato’s Daniel Raisbeck rightly observes that the “election in Argentina can be seen as a referendum on the future of Latin America itself.”

Will Milei be able to implement his vision for a freer and more prosperous Argentina? Like all politicians with similar views, Milei faces the entrenched interests of the administrative state and opposition from those who benefitted from the corrupt redistributive schemes that have presided over Argentina’s relentless decline since Peron rose to power in 1946. He also faces an internal threat: the corrosive moral influence of wielding political power over others and the temptation to use that power for illiberal ends. It is early in the game, and we don’t know much about Milei’s past, his character, his executive capabilities, his political savvy, or his resolve. But we do know that the ideas he openly celebrates are the surest path to greater freedom, prosperity, and human flourishing. If Milei can hold to those principles, then his efforts in the political fray will deserve encouragement and celebration.

“Good evening to all those who are here, to those who are in the streets celebrating. And above all, good evening to all good Argentines, because today begins the reconstruction of Argentina.

Today is a historic night for Argentina. Thank you very much to everyone who came. Thank you very much to all those who made this possible. Thanks to the team that worked for two years to transform Argentina and achieve the miracle of having a libertarian-​liberal president. Thank you very much.

Thanks to my sister Karina, because without her, none of this would have been possible.

In addition, I would also like to thank that giant who has accompanied me throughout this process. That giant that has usually remained in the dark, his name is, Santiago Caputo, and he is the real architect of this, together with the chief.

Furthermore, I also want to thank all the members of “La Libertad Avanza” [Freedom Moves Forward] who worked tirelessly to achieve this goal. I want to give special thanks to the poll watchers, both those of “La Libertad Avanza” and those of the Pro, who put [themselves on the line] to defend the votes. Because we said that the votes were there, but they had to be taken care of. And they took care of them! Thank you very much, poll watchers.

On the other hand, I would especially like to thank President Macri and Mrs. Bullrich who selflessly, in an act of greatness, as never seen before in the history of Argentina, put [themselves on the line] to defend the change that Argentina needs. I want to tell all Argentines that today begins the end of decadence [decline].

Today we begin to turn the page of our history and return to the path we should never have lost. Today ends the impoverishing model of the omnipresent state, from which only a few benefit, while the majority of Argentines suffer.

Today the idea that the state is a booty [treasure chest] to be shared among politicians and their friends is over. Today the vision that the victimizers are the victims, and the victims are the victimizers is over.

Today we return to the path that made this country great. Today we embrace again the ideas of freedom, the ideas of [Argentine Founding Father] Juan Bautista Alberdi.

In short, the ideas of our Founding Fathers that took us, in 35 years, from being a country of barbarians, to becoming the first world power. These ideas are based on three very simple premises.

A limited government, and I want to make this clear, that fulfills to the letter the commitment it has made regarding private property and free trade.

I want to be very clear about something, the model of decadence has come to an end. There is no turning back. The results of this model are there for all to see. From being the richest country in the world, today we are the 130th. Half of the Argentineans are poor and 10% are indigent. Enough of the impoverishing model of the caste [system].

Today we are once again embracing the Liberty model to become a world power again.

At the same time, I want to say to all Argentines and to all political leaders that all those who want to join the New Argentina are welcome. No matter where they come from, no matter what they have done before, no matter what differences we have, I am sure that what unites us is more important than what [divides] us. Because that is what will make the country stand up and become a power again.

In short, as long as you want to join the change that Argentina needs, you are welcome. We know that there are people who will resist, and we know that there are people who want to maintain this system of privileges for some, and that [which] impoverishes the majority of Argentines. To all of them, I want to say the following: WITHIN THE LAW EVERYTHING; OUTSIDE THE LAW NOTHING.

In this new Argentina, there is no place for the violent. There is no place for those who violate the law to defend their privileges. We will be implacable with those who want to use force to defend their privileges. We would like to ask the government to be responsible, to understand that a new Argentina has arrived, and to act accordingly; to take responsibility until the end of the mandate on December 10. Thus, once the mandate is over, we can begin to transform this tragic reality for millions of Argentines.

Let it be well understood that Argentina’s situation is critical, and the changes that our country needs are drastic. There is no room for gradualism. There is no room for lukewarmness. There is no room for half-​measures. If we do not move forward quickly with the structural changes that Argentina needs, we are heading straight towards the worst crisis in our history. It is essential that all of us who want to embrace the ideas of freedom again, work together from December 10; and we can find solutions for a society that has been abandoned by the political class in the last decades.

We have monumental problems ahead: inflation, stagnation, lack of genuine employment, insecurity, poverty, and indigence. Problems that can only be solved if we once again embrace the idea of freedom. Problems that can only be solved if those of us who want a different Argentina work together. To all those who are looking at us from abroad, I would like to say that Argentina will once again occupy that place in the world it should never have lost.

That is why I also want to tell you that our commitment is to democracy, to free trade, and to peace. We will work side by side with all the nations of the free world to help build a better world. Today is a historic night, not for us, but because one way of doing politics has ended and another begins.

To the Argentines I would like to say that, despite the enormous problems the country has, despite the bleakness of the situation, Argentina has a future. But that future exists [only] if it is a Liberal future.

We are not here to invent anything. We come to do the things that history has proven to work. We come to do the same thing we did during the 19th century in our country, the same thing that countries like Ireland did not so long ago. We come to embrace the ideas of a freedom that guarantees the prosperity of Argentines. If we embrace those ideas, we will not only solve today’s problems, but in 35 years we will be a world power again.

Without a doubt, today we are going to celebrate.

Yes, today we are going to celebrate. But it is also true that tomorrow from first thing in the morning, we will start working so that on December 10 we start to bring the solutions Argentines need. Therefore, I would like to thank you all for your hard work supporting us, for believing that it is possible. How many times have we said, and we have been tired of repeating, that the victory in the battle did not come from the number of soldiers but from the strength that comes from heaven.

So, I want to thank you all. And I cannot conclude in any other way:
Viva la Libertad carajo! [Long live freedom, damn it!]
Viva la Libertad carajo! [Long live freedom, damn it!]
Viva la Libertad carajo! [Long live freedom, damn it!]

God bless the Argentines. Thank you very much.”