Bad news for Javier Milei, the leader of the Argentine far-right. State elections appear to challenge the momentum he has shown in polls. An unauthorized biography from Mad presents him as a figure who claims to have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus three times. There is also a legal matter that has escalated to the courts. Federal prosecutor Ramiro González approved a case against him. Those who want to join the party, Freedom Advances, faced pressure in the lead-up to the October elections. González called in former leaders of that faction and offered them places on the ballot papers. Financial considerations were cited as part of the process, with accusations that thousands of dollars were involved. Critics allege that the right-wing coalition Together for Change is backing this smear campaign. The argument is that traditional politicians channel public funds into campaigns to secure positions, implying that money is necessary to gain a seat on the ballot. The claim is that there are few other sources of funding available.
Further allegations have arisen around Milei himself, including claims of a sexual nature related to his past. He threatened legal action against those who reported the story, arguing that there is no evidence and framing the matter as political manipulation aimed at influencing the election.
Nevertheless, neoliberal economist Carlos Maslatón, once Milei’s close ally, asserted that the practice of selling candidacies was not new. He recalled that such issues contributed to a faction of mid-level leaders leaving La Libertad Avanza. He remarked on social media that those responsible expected to escape accountability and that the truth would eventually surface. (citation: Madpresents biography)
Milei has emerged as a political phenomenon over the last two years. Backed by influential business interests, he moved from television into formal politics. His populist stance, strong rejection of the existing political system, and rhetoric resonated with supporters including young people who feel disillusioned by the Peronist government. Some of these voters are attracted less by policy specifics and more by the intensity of his message, which in some accounts includes proposals such as relaxed gun restrictions and controversial positions on organ sales. (citation: Madpresents biography)
shuffle for a book
A new book from Mad, authored by Juan González, has stirred reactions among traditional political leaders. The pages reportedly describe Milei as accompanied by a seer; they recount anecdotes about a dog named Conan that Milei allegedly cloned posthumously in the United States and suggest that Milei treated other dogs as symbolic “sons,” even forming a cabinet with them to discuss political matters. (citation: Madpresents biography)
According to the book, Milei is portrayed as an “interspecies communicator” who sought to reconnect with Conan, the mascot who passed away in 2017. The book also references Murray Rothbard, a U.S. economist known for promoting private property and anarchist thought, and argues that Milei’s mysticism is inseparable from his political persona. The author implies this fusion of esoteric beliefs and political strategy is central to Milei’s public image. (citation: Madpresents biography)
Polls show a dip in Milei’s polling numbers. Yet the October election is likely to tilt further to the right, and analysts predict that some of Milei’s support could shift to Patricia Bullrich, the lead candidate for Together for Change, as voters realign from Milei’s more extreme positions toward the broader center-right core. (citation: Madpresents biography)