Presidential candidate Javier Miley of La Libertad Avanza holds a chainsaw in Buenos Aires. Photo: Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images
His supporters listen with rapture Javier Miley, a self-described «anarcho-capitalist» and tantric sex expert — and now the surprise front-runner in Argentina's presidential election — vows to take a «chainsaw» to the «parasitic» state .
An Anglophile with an Austin Powers haircut and huge sideburns who once led a Rolling Stones tribute band, Mr. Miley revels in the crowd's adulation, frantically waving his arms like a conductor in time with the chants. “We'll kick their asses right from the office,” he shouts.
Every now and then, in this huge conference center on the outskirts of the Argentine capital, several thousand spectators interrupt the libertarian economist's anti-establishment diatribe with chants of: “The caste is afraid.”
Mr Miley, 52 years old. , uses the term to dismiss the entire ideological spectrum of mainstream politicians, from Argentina's Corbynista equivalents to the European Research Group.
He blames them all equally for the collapse of the economy of a country that a century ago was one of the richest in world and exported huge volumes of grain, wool and beef. Inflation now exceeds 120 percent, and the poverty rate is 40 percent.
But the radical outsider's sudden rise has many Argentines deeply concerned about the future of their country if, as polls predict, he wins the Oct. 22 election. first round immediately or second round on November 19.
This is partly due to the fact that he took deregulation and privatization to their extreme extreme (he proposed a free market in human organs and even unwanted children), but also due to the erratic personal style of this lifelong loner, with many wondering whether he has he has the temperament to lead this turbulent society of 46 million people.
A self-confessed loner whose sister is most likely will be his first lady, has become an iconic figure Photo: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images
“Absolutely not,” says Juan Luis Gonzalez, a prominent journalist and author of “El Loco,” an unauthorized biography of Mr. Miley, when asked whether the candidate is suitable for the presidency. .
“I am very concerned about his political ideas, which I think are simply impossible to implement in Argentina. But they bother me much less than Miley's emotional instability. When he gets angry on TV, it's not an act. He is very angry.”
Based on anonymous interviews with Mr. Miley's personal contacts, El Loco is full of stunning revelations, including that the candidate hears «voices,» believes God told him to go into politics, and talks to his dead English mastiff, Conan. in honor of Conan the Barbarian, through a medium.
Miley did not answer El Loco. But his campaign dismissed the book as a «lie» designed to hurt his chances. However, The Telegraph confirmed one of El Loco's astonishing claims, confirming with Massachusetts-based Perpetuate that it had cloned Conan, resulting in the four current English Mastiffs of Milea.
One of them is called Milton, and the other is Milton. Friedman, the scholar who helped found the neoliberal school of economics.
Yet despite the fact that Miley is a polite free-market fan in private, he invariably utters vituperative, hyperbolic insults on stage. Highlights included calling a female journalist a “donkey” and accusing his fellow countryman Pope Francis of being a “fool” and “the representative of evil on earth.”
The son of a bus driver and a housewife, Miley's childhood in the bohemian neighborhood of Buenos Aires in Palermo was, in his own words, unhappy. His father Norberto regularly humiliated and bullied him at school. According to him, his mother Alicia was cold and unloving.
The only saving grace was his sister Karina, with whom he remains very close and is expected to become his first lady.
Mr. Gonzalez tells the story of how Karina lost consciousness and had to be taken to the hospital because Norberto had once beaten her brother. Alicia then accused the boy of almost causing his sister's death. Although they have now partially reconciled, Miley admitted that he has not spoken to his parents for ten years.
Javier Miley throws down the chainsaw on traditional politics in Argentina — at least figuratively speaking. Photo: REUTERS/Christina Sille
He eventually left and began studying economics and briefly playing as a reserve goalkeeper for local soccer team Chacarita Juniors in Argentina's second division. He then became an adviser to Eduardo Eurnekian, one of Argentina's richest men. Mr. Eurnekian's companies include AA2000, which operates most of the country's airports.
It was here that Miley gained national fame, becoming a regular guest on television, standing out among other economics talking heads for his ability to insult and make completely off-topic remarks, including claims that Eastern spirituality had enhanced his sex life. /p>
However, Mr. Miley remains a homebody who enjoys being surrounded by his dogs and books and whose social circle is largely limited to his sister. It is reported that he had his first long-term relationship at the age of 47. Since August he has been dating Fatima Flores, a photogenic comedienne who portrays former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
“There are two sides. him, the violent one who screams and fights with everyone, and the lonely 12-year-old child yearning for love and approval,” says Mr. Gonzalez.
However, separating Miley the man from Miley the political crank may be unnecessary given the chaos many fear he will unleash with his plans to dollarize the economy, close the central bank and 10 of Argentina's 18 government ministries, and privatize health care and education by providing vouchers to the poor. Just in case, he talks about ending diplomatic relations with «communist» countries, including Brazil and China, Argentina's two largest trading partners.
«He wants to rid the dictionary of the word 'rights,' be it labor rights, law on abortion, gender rights or the right to sexual identity,” says Carlos de Angelis, a sociologist who used to appear on television with Miley. and believes that the candidate is “on the verge” of authoritarianism. “For him there are only privileges.”
Congressman Javier Milley is considered the Argentine equivalent of Donald Trump Photo: LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images
Experts estimate that dollarization will require around $40 billion (£32.8 billion). Argentina has no money and most likely will not be able to borrow it. Mr Miley suggested that the first stage could be open competition between currencies, with Argentines using «gold, Swiss francs or the pound», as each prefers.
«He doesn't explain how he's going to do this implement. his policies,” says Tomas Borowinsky, a political scientist at Argentina’s University of San Martin. «He just keeps saying, 'We'll see.'»
One of Miley's few famous friends, Diego Giacomini, an economist with whom he co-authored a book before the couple split, accuses Miley of wanting to be «king » Mr. Eurnekian said his former adviser needed to learn respect and «shut his mouth.»
However, despite — or perhaps because of — his eccentric personality, Mr. Miley, who was often has been compared to Donald Trump, tapping into a deep vein of public resentment over Argentina's economic collapse.
«Makely follows the spirit of the times,» adds Mr. Borovinsky. “This image of an outlandish rocker in leather jackets shouting insults and being politically incorrect is perfect for the moment. Voters want to punish politicians.”
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