International
Javier Milei is the president-elect of Argentina
November 20 |
The right-wing candidate for La Libertad Avanza (LLA), Javier Milei, was elected president of Argentina during the ballot held this Sunday, in which he defeated the candidate of Unión por la Patria (ruling party), Sergio Massa.
After 99.28 percent of the ballots were counted, Milei obtained 55.69 percent of the valid votes (14,476,462), compared to 11,516,142 obtained by Massa (44.30 percent).
Electoral authorities reported a turnout of 76.31 percent. The elections took place in total normality.
During a meeting with his supporters, Massa acknowledged Milei’s victory. He said that he communicated with him, congratulated him for the election result and wished him success during his administration in the next four years.
He announced that he had informed the current head of State, Alberto Fernández, and the elected President that as from Monday the institutional transfer mechanism will start.
He underlined that coexistence, dialogue and respect for peace is the best path that the Argentine society can choose in the future.
He recalled that two proposals for the country were presented in the electoral contest, and that throughout the campaign Juntos por la Patria chose the path of defending the social security system in the hands of the State, education and public health as core values, national industry, labor, SMEs and workers’ rights.
He considered that this is the best way to build prosperity, upward social mobility and national progress, but noted that the citizens chose another path and as of Monday the task of providing certainty is the responsibility of the president elect. We hope he will do so, he added.
He thanked the voters for their participation, especially the militancy of Juntos por la Patria, as well as other actors who were involved in the voting day and those who bet on each project of the country presented by the participating political spaces.
He expressed that the ballot proved that Argentina has a strong, solid and transparent electoral system that respects the results.
From the LLA campaign bunker, Milei told his supporters that they have a commitment “with democracy, free trade and peace”.
“We are going to work side by side with all the nations of the free world to help build a better world. Today is a historic night, not because of us, but because one way of doing politics has ended and another begins.”
After knowing the result, the current president, Alberto Fernández, said that “the people have expressed their will” and defined “the destiny of the country for the next four years”.
In a message broadcast through the social network X, Fernandez said that as from Monday he can start working with Milei to guarantee an orderly transition. Likewise, he congratulated Sergio Massa and Agustín Rossi for the campaign they carried out.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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