Argentine President Javier Milei secured a huge political win on Sunday night after his libertarian party won in key districts in the country’s midterm elections.
According to the Associated Press, Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party won 40.84% of the votes compared to the left-wing Peronists’ 31.7%, with over 90% of votes counted. That will double the party’s representation in the National Congress, giving Milei veto power and defense against any impeachment efforts.
The congressional election was closely watched by U.S. President Donald Trump, who promised a $20 billion currency swap and another $20 billion in private sector funding to Argentina on the condition that Milei’s party performed well.
“If he [Milei] wins, we’re staying with him. And if he doesn’t win, we’re gone,” Trump said in mid-October when Milei visited the White House.
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The win greenlights the $40 billion in funding, as well as a potential deal with Trump to import some of Argentina’s beef. Trump has recently said the beef imports would help lower meat prices in the United States in defense of the plan.
The win for Milei on Sunday marks a comeback from an election in September that saw his party lose in the Buenos Aires province by a margin of 13% to the Peronists.
