Javier Miley won the support of a civilian population disillusioned with traditional politicians. Photo: Natasha Pisarenko/AP
The gritty, crowded labyrinth of narrow Villa 31, with winding streets and brick shacks jutting out at jagged angles, feels like another country compared to the stately avenues and leafy plazas of the Argentine capital just a few blocks away .
These slums may seem an unlikely source of support for Javier Miley, the libertarian economist who has taken Argentina's presidential race by storm with promises to destroy the South American country's bloated welfare state.
But many of Villa 31's residents are plagued by corruption, violent crime and one of the world's highest inflation rates — seem more than willing to roll the dice and vote for a brash far-right outsider.
Dario Romero, a 44-year-old bicycle mechanic wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and a Mohican hairstyle, said: “The government is rotten. All they do is steal. Let's try it with this guy and see what happens.»
Plying his trade in Villa 31's bustling street market, he is surrounded by stalls selling second-hand clothes and cheap Chinese electronics. However, the dominant color is hot pink, taken from the ubiquitous pirated versions of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami jersey.
“What I need is someone with an iron fist who will destroy all the crooks, protesters and glieros (gliders),” Romero said, using an Argentine phrase to describe recipients of welfare or, as it is known here, social plans.
Zuleima Albornoz does not support Miley and accused him of lying about his concern for family problems. Photo: Ana Karina Delgado Diaz.
“I’ve been working since I was eight years old. Grapes are harvested in the village. In the city, as a laborer. I like people who work. Glideros are slackers. Too many people aren't working or working off the books so they can stay on track.»
Hector Espinoza, 32, agreed. In his tiny unlicensed building next to the street market, he began writing prices in chalk. This way he can easily update them every week as needed.
“Today you write down 500 pesos [£1.15] and three days later it turns out to be 510 or 560,” he complained.
“The government is out of control. They just keep printing more money to pay for their plans. For those of us who pay taxes, we are simply subsidizing everyone else. Of course we want change.”
Few countries have a more convoluted social security system than Argentina. The payments include several different forms of child support, a local version of food stamps and subsidies for those who work informally or earn low wages. In some cases, access to these payments can be discretionary, causing widespread dissatisfaction.
According to some estimates, half of Argentina's 46 million citizens receive social benefits. While in many cases these benefits can save those in need from starvation, gliders have become a hot topic in a society depleted by economic dysfunction and political polarization.
Luis Ocampo will vote for Miley and proudly displays political ads for the presidential candidate. Photo: Ana Karina Delgado Diaz
The 52-year-old Mili's high-profile — critics say irresponsible — promises, including cutting government spending by 15 percent of GDP and dollarizing the economy, appear to many to be a silver bullet that could finally transform the South American country into what many of its citizens are here. to be visibly thirsty; «normal country.»
The left wing of the Peronist movement bears much of the blame for Argentina's economic crisis.
He has been in power for most of the last 20 years. It was led by Nestor Kirchner, the late president, then by his widow Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, and now by President Alberto Fernandez.
The exception to Peronism was the center-right government of Mauricio Macri, which held power from 2015-2019.
He came to power promising free market reforms, monetary restraint and prosperity. But his government soon ran into economic difficulties, and he left office when inflation exceeded 50 percent.
Things have only gone downhill since then. Inflation has reached 124 percent, hitting the poor particularly hard, and Argentina is the largest debtor to the International Monetary Fund, owing it £36 billion. This failure opened the door to Milea's anti-establishment message.
Sociologist Pablo Seman of the National University of San Martin said: «Economic issues are very important, but they are not just about people's profits.» He added: “There is a moral aspect. Argentines now take economic mismanagement as a personal affront.»
Hector Espinosa, who is not licensed at Villa 31, appears to be demonstrating support for the Miley party. Photo: Ana Karina Delgado. Diaz
Miley and his upstart Promotion of Freedom party currently have just over 30 percent of the vote, three to four points ahead of government candidate Sergio Massa ahead of the Oct. 22 first round.
This will potentially pit the two of them against each other in the runoff on November 19th. Another significant candidate, Patricia Bullrich, from the Conservative opposition, is in her mid-20s.
As the candidate of the Peronist government, which has showered voters with benefits and tax breaks in recent weeks, Massa, often seen as a moderate pragmatist, could draw significant resources and a national network of activists.
But it also has a huge drawback; he is the current economy minister, responsible for much of the country's crisis.
Miley's proposed solutions include dismantling the social security system and completely privatizing health care and education.
He also proposes a free market for unwanted children, opposes abortion, and wants to fight crime by allowing ordinary Argentines to arm themselves.
However, not everyone at Villa 31 believes Milea's promises. .
“Keeps changing his story”
“He’s lying. He doesn’t know anything about family and the responsibilities that come with it,” says Zuleima Albornoz, 34, concierge to the presidential candidate, a bachelor who boasts of his supposed skills in tantric sex.
While calling Miley a «Nazi,» she also objects to his demonization of illegal immigrants, many of them Peruvians and Bolivians, who for years settled in Buenos Aires' roughest neighborhoods, including Villa 31, intermarrying with local families.
“I don’t understand why people believe him. He constantly changes his story. One day he will immediately begin to dollarize his assets. He goes on to say that it will take time. He's crazy.»
Her friend Graciela Herrera, 47, adds: “Who would sell their children? He had never set foot in the slums. He has no idea.”
Later this month, Argentines will have to make a choice that many of them would rather not make.
For most, it comes down to either voting for Massa, who promises to sort out the economic mess largely created by the Peronists he represents, or betting on Miley, a radical outsider who promises to fix Argentina. figuratively speaking, blowing up key government institutions.
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