Javier Milei's Defeat: A Major Setback for His Libertarian Agenda

Mon Sep 15 2025 16:28:40 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a surprising turn of events, Argentine President Javier Milei faces significant defeat in the Buenos Aires provincial elections, signaling challenges for his party and government as congressional midterms approach.

Argentine President Javier Milei's party, La Libertad Avanza, suffered a crushing defeat in the Buenos Aires provincial elections, securing only 34% of the vote against the Peronist opposition's 47%. This setback comes ahead of the congressional midterms and raises questions about the viability of Milei's radical economic reforms amidst a struggling economy. Milei conceded the loss, vowing to learn from mistakes while maintaining his economic policies. The election results not only reflect public sentiment but also embolden Milei's escalating political opposition.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine President Javier Milei suffered a sweeping setback on Sunday in a Buenos Aires provincial election widely viewed as a political test for his libertarian party and a barometer for how it will perform in crucial congressional midterms next month.

Milei’s recently formed La Libertad Avanza party captured just 34% of the vote in Argentina’s biggest province, losing by a landslide to the left-leaning Peronist opposition, which secured 47% with the majority of ballots counted late Sunday.

Milei conceded that his right-wing party’s crushing 13-point loss to his populist rivals represented “a clear defeat.”

“We suffered a setback, and we must accept it responsibly,” Milei told grim-faced supporters at the party headquarters, his tone reflective, even chastened.

“If we’ve made political mistakes, we’re going to internalize them, we’re going to process them, we’re going to modify our actions,” he said.

Still, he vowed to stick with his sweeping economic overhaul, saying: “There will be no retreat in government policy.”

Milei faces a worse-than-expected defeat

With Milei struggling to stabilize a sputtering economy and his close associates embroiled by a graft scandal ahead of congressional midterm elections in late October, analysts are closely watching the results to assess their impact on investors and the broader global market.

Peronist leader Cristina Fernández de Kirchner appeared to take great satisfaction in Milei's defeat, remarking that his government needed to reconnect with the populace after “heavy burdens” had resulted from his austerity measures.

Stakes are raised for congressional midterms

Milei’s party needs to gain more seats in Congress to push forward his radical libertarian reforms in the upcoming midterms.

The election result is a crucial indicator of public sentiment toward Milei’s administration and further highlights the momentum building for the Peronists, who remain the dominant political force in Argentina’s fragmented Congress.

An economy in troubled waters

Despite measures taken to reduce inflation and wrap up unsustainable spending, many Argentines are still facing economic hardship.

Consumer confidence remains low, and as the upcoming congressional midterms approach, Milei's administration will need to work diligently to maintain support amid rising economic challenges.

As the results settle in, it's clear that Milei's path forward will be more complex than anticipated.