Javier Milei

Born in Buenos Aires in 1970, Milei studied economics at the University of Belgrano and became a fixture on Argentine television in the 2010s, where he made his name attacking the political class and its spending habits. He entered the Chamber of Deputies in 2021, representing La Libertad Avanza, and spent his term voting but refusing most legislative work - he raffled off his salary instead. In 2023 he beat the sitting economy minister Sergio Massa in a runoff, blaming Kirchnerism for the country's monetary collapse. Since taking office he's pushed austerity and deregulation; inflation dropped, poverty fell to 31.6% by early 2025, and wages started recovering, though rising costs kept pressure high. His coalition won a plurality in the 2025 legislative elections, buying him time to finish what he started.