For many Argentinians, the decision to support Javier Milei's party in last Sunday's midterm elections was not one of choice, but necessity. Francisco Jiménez, a 32-year-old delivery app rider who will have to leave his rented house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires due to unaffordable rent, exemplifies this sentiment.
Jiménez voted for Milei's party, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), despite the economic downturn and corruption allegations that have plagued the president's nearly two years in power. He believes that the opposition had "done too much harm" and that Milei needs more time to implement his policies.
However, those who are struggling to make ends meet like Jiménez are increasingly becoming the majority. The president's austerity plan, which includes cutting federal spending, freezing wages and pensions, halting public works, and slashing subsidies, has taken a devastating toll on the middle class.
Nicolás Pedrosa, a 40-year-old mobile phone shop owner in Buenos Aires, regrets voting for Milei's party in the 2023 presidential election. "Today, I deeply regret it," he said. "The middle class no longer exists; you're either poor or rich."
Pedrosa's experience is not unique. Since Milei took office, an estimated 205,000 to 250,000 formal jobs have been lost in Argentina, and about 18,000 businesses have closed. Informal workers now account for 43.2% of the labour force, with half of them earning less than enough to get by.
The president's decision to lift restrictions on imports has also had a devastating impact on domestic industries. Textile manufacturers are facing a "great depression" due to the cheap dollar, which is making imported products more affordable for consumers.
Even domestic wine sales are being affected, with exports falling by 8.4% from last year. The stronger peso has made Argentine wine more expensive abroad, further reducing export volumes.
While some may argue that the president's policies have reduced inflation and contained the economy, the reality is that average incomes have fallen sharply, and household debt has risen. The poverty rate has climbed above 50%, with many families struggling to make ends meet.
As a result, Milei will face significant challenges in implementing his policies and fixing the economy. "He can't fix the economy overnight when it's been a mess for years," said Jiménez.
Despite these challenges, it remains to be seen whether Milei will be able to implement reforms that benefit all Argentinians or if he will continue to cater to the interests of the wealthy elite. One thing is certain: the economic situation in Argentina is dire, and it will take a concerted effort from the government and citizens alike to turn things around.
Jiménez voted for Milei's party, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), despite the economic downturn and corruption allegations that have plagued the president's nearly two years in power. He believes that the opposition had "done too much harm" and that Milei needs more time to implement his policies.
However, those who are struggling to make ends meet like Jiménez are increasingly becoming the majority. The president's austerity plan, which includes cutting federal spending, freezing wages and pensions, halting public works, and slashing subsidies, has taken a devastating toll on the middle class.
Nicolás Pedrosa, a 40-year-old mobile phone shop owner in Buenos Aires, regrets voting for Milei's party in the 2023 presidential election. "Today, I deeply regret it," he said. "The middle class no longer exists; you're either poor or rich."
Pedrosa's experience is not unique. Since Milei took office, an estimated 205,000 to 250,000 formal jobs have been lost in Argentina, and about 18,000 businesses have closed. Informal workers now account for 43.2% of the labour force, with half of them earning less than enough to get by.
The president's decision to lift restrictions on imports has also had a devastating impact on domestic industries. Textile manufacturers are facing a "great depression" due to the cheap dollar, which is making imported products more affordable for consumers.
Even domestic wine sales are being affected, with exports falling by 8.4% from last year. The stronger peso has made Argentine wine more expensive abroad, further reducing export volumes.
While some may argue that the president's policies have reduced inflation and contained the economy, the reality is that average incomes have fallen sharply, and household debt has risen. The poverty rate has climbed above 50%, with many families struggling to make ends meet.
As a result, Milei will face significant challenges in implementing his policies and fixing the economy. "He can't fix the economy overnight when it's been a mess for years," said Jiménez.
Despite these challenges, it remains to be seen whether Milei will be able to implement reforms that benefit all Argentinians or if he will continue to cater to the interests of the wealthy elite. One thing is certain: the economic situation in Argentina is dire, and it will take a concerted effort from the government and citizens alike to turn things around.
I'm getting tired of politicians making promises they can't keep 
. It's like they think we're all just going to forget about our struggles because they throw around some fancy economic jargon 
. Newsflash: it doesn't work that way 
. I mean, who loses 205,000 jobs in two years? 
That's not a policy, that's a disaster 
. And now we're expected to just sit back and watch as the middle class disappears into thin air? No thanks 
. The only thing that's going to fix this is real change, not some PR stunt 
.
And what does it say about our economy that we're in this situation in the first place?
i feel bad for all those people who are struggling to make ends meet and having to choose between paying rent or buying food 
the middle class just doesn't exist anymore it's like they're being forced to live in a constant state of poverty 
and yeah i can see why nicolás pedrosa would regret voting for milei's party now he's seen firsthand how devastating the austerity plan has been on their businesses and livelihoods 
the decision to vote for milei's party was maybe just a desperation move, but still it's not like he came up with a solid plan to fix everything 
its gonna take more than just someone talking about change to turn this around 
. I mean, cutting federal spending and freezing wages? That sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. But honestly, it's hard to see how Milei is going to turn things around when the middle class is basically non-existent 
.
. It's time for some real data visualization and analysis 
.
.
. We need someone with real answers, not just more of the same old politics 
Argentina is in a tough spot right now and it's not easy to see a way out of this economic mess.
I just hope that President Milei can find a way to fix things without leaving too many people behind. 