unprecedented situation
Noise fills the Buenos Aires metro with a relentless clamor: squeaks, horns, voices, shouts, and music. Each trip feels louder than what many would call acceptable, averaging around ninety decibels and sometimes rising higher. In this city, Ricardo Gene, 79, a physician and retired teacher, does not usually ride the subway. Yet hours earlier he stepped aboard to warn fellow passengers about the dangers tied to the election outcome he would rather prevent. The recent political contest, with Javier Milei facing the Peronist Sergio Massa in a razor-thin race, has sharpened public emotion. Milei’s proposals, including ending free university education, have sparked deep concerns among many riders and observers.
Elsa Lombardo, a sociologist and a survivor of the dictatorship era, was among those who spoke out on the subway. Having lived through El Olimpo, a detention center used during the 1976-83 dictatorship, Lombardo took part in the historic 1985 trial of former commanders. Her subway intervention intensified the drama of the moment. She urged passengers to reject Milei at the ballot box on behalf of those who cannot speak, including countless babies and families displaced by violence. Some riders offered silent support, embracing her as the scene unfolded. Recently, Anita Fernández, granddaughter of a company founder and a member of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, was also drawn into similar pleas. Her mother disappeared in 1977, a stark reminder of the era’s horrors, and another terror victim raised similar concerns on the train.
unprecedented situation
Martina Miravalles and her sister Luciana chose to address the passengers on line B. They reminded travelers that Milei aligns with figures who took hard stances in the past. One comparison offered a note of historical memory: Margaret Thatcher and the 1982 Falklands conflict, where a British naval decision led to the loss of 323 Argentine service members. The sisters stressed the responsibility to vote with the country and its vulnerable children in mind, urging the crowd to consider the broader implications come Sunday. In another car, a mother of three with disabilities spoke up about the potential loss of state support under Milei’s plans, urging restraint in the electoral choice.
“Some people talk about transportation while lacking the paper trail or flyers to deliver their message,” observed writer Maria Pía López. “But there is a voice that carries a story—testimonies of women who endured torture, of their children who rely on public health, and of doctors who witnessed the toll of repression. These voices remind us of a common life and the idea that crimes left unacknowledged may become state-sanctioned policy.”
fear of Milei and moral concerns
On the platform, fear of Milei is shouted, but the unease runs deeper than a single name. The vice president, Victoria Villarruel, is linked by family history to figures connected with past oppression and refused to swear to the democratic constitution. Her uncle, tied to the dictatorship, has links to the Armed Forces. Villarruel has long pushed for actions by the military, including calls for the release of personnel convicted of serious human rights violations. Many observers worry that Milei’s victory could inaugurate a broader power shift, potentially replacing seasoned politicians with a leadership aligned with the military. Critics have questioned whether Mauricio Macri, a former president and ally, aims to steer events from behind the scenes to shape the outcome. One columnist even used an AI-generated image to illustrate a possible future scenario.
Against this backdrop, debate grows about Macri’s role: is he a behind-the-scenes puppeteer or simply a political ally facing a shifting landscape? The discussion reflects broader concerns about the balance of power and the future of democratic norms in the country.
military influence in government
In the days leading up to the election, Villarruel launched a distinctive campaign effort. Reports suggest that if Milei wins, she would scrutinize political dynamics and the standing of governors and minority voices in Congress. Some speculate Milei might seek to place military personnel in key cabinet roles, mirroring patterns seen in other nations. A retired colonel involved in military intelligence and linked to a foundation tied to past regimes has supported such ideas, sparking debate about civil-military boundaries and the protection of civilian institutions.
bullying the political left
Villarruel recently entered heated television debates with Peronist vice-presidential candidate Agustín Rossi. The discussion touched on figures with histories of human rights violations, and Villarruel signaled openness to reevaluating laws around voluntary termination of pregnancy and the use of certain reform sites associated with past abuses. Critics have voiced concern that a far-right agenda could rewrite historical memory, a worry echoed by the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo and their spokesperson Estela de Carlotto, who warned that attempts to erase history are dangerous. In the subway, Fernández reminded listeners of the stakes, recounting that Milei’s supporters have praised aggressive tactics, while some passengers reacted with silence or turned away. Others urged a lasting commitment to democracy and the protection of civil liberties, expressing a shared wish for stability and safety in the electoral process.