In the countdown to the Nov. 19 runoff election, and the Nov. 12 final debate between Sergio Massa of the ruling Unity for the Fatherland (UxP) coalition, and Libertarian extremist Javier Milei, there are signs of confusion and disorientation in the Milei campaign, which is now being run by the murderous former President Mauricio Macri. As a sign of nerves, Milei requested that in next week’s two-hour debate he be allowed to read from a prepared text, which the National Electoral Council turned down saying that a presidential candidate should be able to explain his program and policies coherently in public without relying on a written document.
From reports in several Argentine media, Macri has told Milei to keep a low profile—keep his mouth shut—and leave the chainsaw that is the symbol of his campaign (to show he will slash public spending) at home. Milei and his supporters often show up in public wielding their chainsaws, scaring onlookers. Macri and his group of henchmen have also advised Milei’s top economic advisers to keep quiet, not make public statements, not give interviews, etc. These are the proponents of dollarization, of the elimination of the Central Bank and of other Hayekian lunacies. Except for one, longtime Chicago Boy Carlos Rodriguez, who did put out an angry tweet on X, the others haven’t been heard from.
Macri is trying to make Milei more acceptable, while moving in his own people—former cabinet ministers from his 2015-2019 government—as potential ministers in a future Milei cabinet. This is a very sleazy group of Wall Street/City of London devotees. Patricia Bullrich, who ran on the ticket of Macri’s “Together Let’s Change” coalition, and came in third in the Oct. 22 elections, was disqualified for the runoff. However, she is part of the new “alliance” Macri made with Milei right after Oct. 22; although, admittedly, it’s not even clear what her role is.
