The nine most terrifying words in the English language are:
I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.
— Ronald Reagan - Aug. 12, 1986
Most Argentines did not elect eclectic libertarian Javier Milei in November 2023 because they understood his economic philosophy.
Rather, they were exasperated by the economic disaster of the leftist Peronist government of Alberto Fernandez, with inflation racing toward 140%, making buying basic goods a daily struggle, plus an impending debt default, evidence of official corruption, and increasing public insecurity.
Yet Argentines were also skeptical of the traditional right.
Its prior businessman President, Mauricio Macri (2015 to 2019), facing a similarly impossible set of economic challenges and political obstacles, also left the government in financial crisis and economic freefall.