Argentina's Milei Secures 40.8 Percent Victory in Parliamentary Vote
(MENAFN) Argentine President Javier Milei's governing coalition captured Sunday's parliamentary contest with 40.8% of ballots cast, preliminary tallies showed, with 96% of votes tabulated.
Milei's La Libertad Avanza party defeated the Peronist opposition's Fuerza Patria, which garnered 24.5%, and secured triumphs in critical territories including the capital Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe and Mendoza.
The nation held pivotal elections with citizens casting ballots to refresh nearly half the Chamber of Deputies seats (127 out of 257) and one-third of Senate positions (24 out of 72).
The elections were key for President Milei's government and widely viewed as a plebiscite on his administration. The results were seen as a measure of public approval and will determine his ability to advance major reforms through Congress.
La Libertad Avanza delivered a surprising victory, winning 64 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Starting Dec. 10, Milei's party will account for a total of 94 out of 257 legislators in the lower house.
While this still falls short of a majority, the significant gain will be enough to sustain presidential vetoes and stave off any potential impeachment proceedings, which some opposition sectors had threatened to do.
After learning of his party's electoral backing, President Milei celebrated at his campaign bunker.
"Today has been a historic day," he declared. "The Argentine people have left behind decadence and chosen progress. Today we have passed the tipping point. Today begins the construction of a great Argentina."
Milei also said that "the new Congress will be fundamental to ensuring the change of direction" and announced that he would pursue significant reforms.
"Over the next two years, we must advance the reformist path we have begun," the president stated, emphasizing that the projects he will promote are necessary to "consolidate Argentina's growth and takeoff."
"Starting Dec. 10, we will, without a doubt, have the most reformist Congress in Argentine history," he added.
The elections were also notable for the low voter turnout. The National Electoral Chamber reported that in a country where voting is mandatory, less than 68% of the electorate cast a ballot Sunday, the lowest since Argentina's return to democracy in 1983.
With these results, the governing party will substantially increase its presence in Congress, although the Senate will remain under the control of the opposition.
US President Donald Trump congratulated Milei on his election victory.
"He is doing a wonderful job! Our confidence in him was justified by the people of Argentina," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
He earlier endorsed Milei for the elections but threatened to cut aid to the South American country if the opposition wins.
"If he loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina," he said.
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