On October 22, 2023, voters voted in the presidential election held in Argentina. (Luis Robayo/AFP)
[The Epoch Times, October 23, 2023](Comprehensive report by Epoch Times reporter Zhang Ting) The Argentine presidential election will vote on Sunday (October 22). Javier Milei, a far-right economist who leads the polls, has become a target of the CCP’s attention. Sources revealed that during the Argentine President’s recent visit to China, Chinese Communist Party officials expressed concerns about Mire’s possible election.
After almost all votes were counted, Economy Minister Sergio Massa exceeded expectations, winning 36.7% of the vote. Mire won 30% of the vote. According to Argentina’s regulations, the two entered the runoff in November.
Leading the way in pre-election polls was the anti-establishment economist Milley. Mire has promised a sea-change if elected. He promised to abolish Argentina’s so-called “political caste”; he promised to slash public spending programs and close some sectors; and he pledged to dollarize the economy, replacing the peso currency with dollars, to rein in Latin America’s third largest economy. 138% inflation in large economies; he advocates privatizing state entities; he criticizes the Chinese Communist Party and supports relaxing gun laws; he is against abortion; he is also anti-feminist.
In the presidential primary election held in August, Mire emerged as the top vote-getter among all candidates, defeating Massa. Therefore, there are still many variables about who will ascend to the presidential throne in the November runoff election.
Whether Mire can win is closely watched by the CCP
According to a report by the Argentine media “Buenos Aires Times”, government sources revealed that after Mire’s remarks about cutting off relations with China reached the ears of the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese Communist Party officials responded during Argentine President Alberto Fernandez’s recent visit to China. During this period, China expressed its concerns.
Government sources traveling with Fernandez said there were “concerns” on the Chinese side and that they had heard such statements in meetings during the first few days of the visit.
As Argentina’s second largest trading partner, China is paying close attention to the results of Argentina’s presidential election.
Mire has said that maintaining business relations with China is not his desire. He also wants to sever ties with Brazil, the country’s main trading partner.
Mire proposed canceling Argentina’s relations with China and Brazil, its two main trading partners, due to differences in ideological stances.
If Mire is elected, the alliances that the Fernandez government has built over the past few years, including the possibility of Argentina joining the BRICS grouping planned for January 1 next year, may be halted.
At present, in addition to planning to join the BRICS, Argentina also maintains close ties with the CCP. Specifically, it provides financing for the dam in Santa Cruz, Argentina, and Argentina authorizes the RMB to be an important currency in the country. It is one of the pricing, settlement, trading and reserve currencies. It also has some pending “Belt and Road” cooperation projects with the CCP.
Argentina is in deep economic crisis. Mire’s ideas resonate with voters.
Argentina is facing its worst economic crisis in two decades, with triple-digit inflation and growing poverty fueling political unrest at home. Poverty affects more than two-fifths of Argentina’s population. Mire’s advocacy resonated with many voters who are angry at the country’s political establishment.
“This is the most important election in the past 100 years.” Mire said at a campaign rally on Wednesday (October 18). “The current (governance) model will only turn us into the largest slum in the world.”
“If you want to change this decadent system, I ask you to support me with your vote,” he added.
Mire also hinted in previous speeches that he would implement sweeping reforms after taking office. He said in August this year, “We are the real opposition. The same old routine always fails and cannot make any change in Argentina.”
“He (Mire) is the only one who understands the situation in this country and knows how to save it,” 22-year-old student Nicolas Mercado said, according to Reuters.
Economy Minister Felipe Felipe Massa and conservative Patricia Bullrich were slightly behind Mire in pre-election polls. Massa is the backbone of Argentina’s ruling Peronist Coalition. The league has ruled Argentina for most of the past 77 years.
Massa promised he would cut the fiscal deficit but stick with the peso and defend Peronism’s social welfare safety net. The conservative Burridge is a former security minister who is popular in business circles. Her support was undermined by Mire’s surprise appearance.
Argentina to hold runoff election without big winner
Pollsters predicted there would be no big winner in the election long before the results came out. To win this Sunday’s election, a candidate needs to get more than 45% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote with a 10-point lead over his opponent, otherwise Argentina will enter the presidential election runoff. Choose. The runoff election will be held on November 19.
Whoever wins will have to face the dilemma of an impending economic collapse, including empty central bank reserves, an economic recession caused by a major drought, and a precarious $44 billion program between Argentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Argentina is one of the world’s largest exporters of soybeans, corn and beef and has huge reserves of lithium and shale gas.
Editor in charge: Li Qiong#
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2023-10-22 22:43:23
