International

Javier Milei: the eccentric far-right economist who shook up Argentine politics

Javier Milei, the economist who burst into Argentine politics with an incendiary speech and an irreverent attitude, has advanced in 2024 in his offensive against the State and has become an emblematic figure of the regional and even global far right.

Aged 54 and a native of the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo, Milei had a meteoric rise in Argentine politics thanks to his bizarre television appearances, in which he presented himself as a loud and combative libertarian economist.

His emergence was marked by a visceral rejection of the “political caste,” a term he frequently uses to disqualify traditional political actors, although he has adapted it over time to suit his current adversary.

The owner of the chainsaw

Milei ‘s electoral victory , first in the legislative elections that made him a deputy in 2021 and then in the 2023 presidential elections that took him to the Casa Rosada, was due in part to his image as an outsider politician who promoted novel and different ideas than those of his opponents.

After winning the general elections in November with 55.65% of the votes against the official candidate Sergio Massa, he took office on December 10 and in his first speech he anticipated that the only way to solve the country’s economic difficulties was through a severe adjustment.

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This adjustment has advanced with ferocity over the last 12 months with a drastic cut in public spending and a dismantling of the State that has resulted in the closure of more than a dozen ministries, the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, the disappearance of social aid and organisations, the fall in funding for public education and health and an increase in poverty and destitution.

Popularity and support

These effects, although presented as the flip side of a successful and rapid stabilization of the macroeconomy, have been openly promoted – and even proudly celebrated – by a Milei who has not only not moderated his violent rhetoric but has accused those who demand that he tone down his speech of being “lukewarm.”

Despite this, the president’s popularity remains above 50%, his followers have shown absolute loyalty and his party’s projections for the legislative elections scheduled for October 2025 are increasingly better.

This support, combined with the political skill of some of his close associates in the Government , has allowed him to successfully negotiate some of his initiatives in Congress, where he still has a narrow minority.

Reference of the extreme right

One of the main focuses of Milei’s administration has been international politics, with more than a dozen trips abroad in which he dedicated himself to weaving a network of alliances with far-right leaders.

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Beyond his unconditional alignment with Israel and the United States, which he has strictly respected this year, the Argentine president has attended numerous summits promoted by conservative organizations or leaders and even hosted an edition of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Buenos Aires.

At that meeting, he repeated some of the warnings he had issued in Davos and at the UN about the advance of socialism and the dangers facing the West, and advocated a “right-wing international” with Argentina as a “beacon to the world” alongside governments such as those of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador and Donald Trump in the United States.

Intensify policies

In parallel, Milei has insisted this year on the need to move forward with a moral change in Argentine society, abandoning “the impoverishing ideas of collectivism” to replace them with the extreme individualism advocated by his “anarcho-capitalist” model.

To fight this “cultural battle,” he has recruited some of the country’s most conservative thinkers and influencers, who are accompanying him in his offensive against “the human rights scam,” “radical feminism,” and the “aberration” of social justice, among other causes of “stupid progressivism.”

Looking ahead to next year, Milei has anticipated that he will not moderate but rather intensify the policies he has implemented in 2024, has promised a “deep chainsaw” and has anticipated major reforms in tax, pension, labor, criminal, political and national security matters.

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“If we could do so much with the whole world against us, imagine what we can do with the wind in our favor. We could go twice as far, twice as fast,” he said this month in his speech marking his first anniversary in power, and declared: “The smaller the State, the greater the freedom.”

International

Two Police Officers Shot During Road Clearance Operation in Eastern Bolivia

At least two police officers were wounded by gunfire on Saturday during an operation to clear roadblocks in Bolivia’s eastern Santa Cruz region, which has remained partially cut off for 24 days amid protests demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.

The joint operation involving the Police and the Armed Forces began at 6:00 a.m. local time near the town of San Julián, approximately 117 kilometers northeast of Santa Cruz city. The effort focused on reopening an alternative highway linking the region with Beni and western Bolivia.

According to Santa Cruz Police Commander David Gómez, protesters initially responded aggressively to the security operation.

“Local groups organized themselves and began attacking us brutally with firecrackers, stones, and other objects,” Gómez told reporters. “We used chemical agents in an attempt to disperse the crowd, which was behaving aggressively.”

Authorities initially succeeded in reopening the roadway, allowing vehicles to pass through. However, protesters later regrouped and engaged in renewed clashes with police forces that lasted for more than four hours.

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During the confrontation, gunshots were heard, forcing both police and military personnel to withdraw from the area.

Gómez reported that one officer suffered a gunshot wound to the head, while another was struck in the right thigh. Both officers were evacuated for medical treatment.

The police commander stated that demonstrators not only carried out physical attacks against officers but also used firearms during the confrontation, prompting authorities to order a tactical retreat.

The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions surrounding the ongoing protests in Santa Cruz, where demonstrators have maintained roadblocks for more than three weeks as part of their campaign against the government.

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International

U.S. to invest $700 million in coal plants and mines under Trump initiative

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a $700 million funding package aimed at supporting the American coal industry, marking the latest step in his administration’s efforts to boost the use of the fossil fuel.

According to Trump, the funding will be used to keep 14 coal-fired power plants operating across ten states, maintain 42 coal mines, and support the construction of two new power plants and an export terminal.

The president said the initiative will be financed through the Defense Production Act, a law enacted in 1950 that grants emergency powers to the president to support and direct domestic industries considered critical to national interests.

Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has pursued policies designed to expand domestic energy production and roll back a number of environmental regulations. He has also repeatedly questioned the scientific consensus regarding human-caused climate change.

Coal remains the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel and is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions among major energy sources, making it a central focus of debates over climate policy and energy security.

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U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended the initiative, describing coal as a critical resource for both electricity generation and industrial production.

The announcement comes as global energy markets continue to evolve. According to an analysis by the Global Energy Monitor, the world added and commissioned more coal-fired power capacity in 2025, although overall coal consumption declined. The report also found that the United States was the only major economy to record a significant increase in coal-fired power generation during that period.

The new funding package underscores the administration’s commitment to supporting traditional energy industries while debate continues over the balance between energy security, economic growth and environmental objectives.

International

Four decapitated bodies found in abandoned vehicle near Guerrero state Congress

Police in Mexico have found four decapitated bodies inside an abandoned vehicle parked near the state Congress building in Guerrero, authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The southern state of Guerrero, home to the resort city of Acapulco, has long been affected by violent clashes between criminal organizations competing for control of drug trafficking routes.

According to prosecutors cited by AFP, the bodies were wrapped in black plastic bags and left inside a car parked at one of the rear entrances of the legislative building in the state capital, Chilpancingo.

Authorities say the region has seen intensified conflict between rival drug trafficking groups, including the Sierra Cartel and Los Ardillos, a criminal organization that Indigenous communities have accused of carrying out attacks in the mountainous, impoverished areas of the state.

The ongoing violence highlights the persistent security crisis in Guerrero, where organized crime continues to exert significant influence over large parts of the territory.