Far-right figure Javier Milei is beginning to confront challenges as he shapes his new government, set to take office on December 10. Support from the former president Mauricio Macri proved crucial for Sergio Massa to prevail in the runoff. Macri now seeks leverage, while Milei weighs concessions against pursuing his agenda. The balance appears to tilt toward mutual favors. Patricia Bullrich, Macri’s former Security Minister and Milei’s first-round rival, will again head this portfolio alongside the libertarian coalition’s leadership. The change also signals the departure of deputy leader Victoria Villarruel, who previously drove this area of government.
Bullrich and Milei entered the campaign with heated exchanges. Milei, an advocate of decisive action, appeared improvised and inexperienced in his early days, earning Bullrich’s sharp rebuttals. He once labeled her a mere second-choice candidate and accused her of threats during debates; she responded by recalling her past with a veteran resistance movement. Milei at times corrected himself, saying his remarks about threats were mischaracterized. The debate debate became a courtroom flashpoint, with Bullrich challenging Milei’s assertions as extreme for the political stage.
The Together for Change coalition candidate cited aggressive statements from Milei as an extraordinary risk to Argentina’s democratic norms, a claim that drew headlines and legal attention. Bullrich backed Milei after his first-round setback but ultimately aligned with Macri in the runoff, a decision that carried political costs for her. The shared opposition to Peronism ran deeper than personal grudges, with some figures noting that when a country faces danger, extraordinary steps can feel permissible.
strong pressures
Within days of his victory, the former president quietly steers influencing moves behind the scenes. Milei postponed a planned trip to New York, where he had hoped to visit the grave of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a prominent figure in the Chabad movement. Milei, who has described himself as libertarian, is reported to spend time reading scripture daily. The national press noted that some of these religious gestures circulated via messages from influential figures, highlighting how personal beliefs weave into political behavior. Critics call the influence turbulent and note the risk to policy clarity. In a separate development, Emilio Uc, who had been slated to lead the central bank, resigned before taking office amid concerns about continuity if a familiar economist remained in the economic ministry. The prior Macri administration is often cited as a backdrop to Milei’s economic plans, with former officials who shaped IMF negotiations appearing again in the public arena.
Observers remarked that Macri had described Milei’s team as inexperienced, while Milei’s inner circle defended the pace of reform. Political commentators highlighted a public narrative that private dislike could be sidelined in favor of a unified stance against longstanding policies. A national outlet reported that the party’s color and branding were under discussion, a badge of identity that even the former president noted in conversations about the coalition’s maturity and cohesion. Some analysts argued that Milei’s movement faced challenges of scale and institutional depth as it sought to consolidate power quickly.
Online policy trackers suggested Milei was attempting to temper a sharper counterstrike from Macri’s allies while managing the expectations of a legislative group that holds a mix of deputies and senators. The governing coalition needed broad support to stabilize the state apparatus, particularly in securing cooperation from regional governors. In essence, Milei’s administration was navigating a delicate balance between bold reforms and practical governance, with the long-standing political landscape playing a decisive role in shaping the early days of his presidency. Attribution: The above synthesis draws on contemporary coverage from major national outlets and reflects the public discourse around Milei, Macri, Bullrich, and the coalition dynamics at the start of Milei’s government.