Javier Milei said he is "super calm" about his chances of reelection: "I don't see Argentines voting to go backwards"

Javier Milei trusts in the electoral backing of voters to accelerate the government's economic program. Photo: Reuters President Javier Milei stated that he is confident Argentines will back his continuation in power and argued that an electoral victory would allow his government's economic program to be accelerated. "I'm super calm," he said. The president linked that forecast to the evolution of economic and social indicators that he listed during the conversation. "Do we have more inflation or less? Less inflation. Do we have more GDP per capita or less? More. Do we have fewer poor people, fewer indigent people, fewer poor children? Do we have better security conditions?" he posed. When asked whether citizens might vote with their wallets, Milei responded affirmatively about his chances of being reelected. According to him, voters will not support options that he associated with "a hundred years of decline." "I don't see Argentines voting to go backwards," he said during an extensive interview on Radio Mitre. "I don't see Argentines, whether with newer or older faces, adhering to the ideas of a hundred years of decline," he added. He also maintained that his political space represents reform and progress, while criticizing sectors of the opposition, whom he again referred to with disparaging terms. Asked about a possible ticket with Patricia Bullrich in 2027, Milei avoided specifying whether he considers her for the vice presidency, though he reaffirmed her belonging to the ruling coalition. "Obviously, if she is part of the space, clearly," he responded regarding the possibility of sharing a ballot, and described her as "one of the great figures of the space." Milei ruled out Patricia Bullrich leaving La Libertad Avanza The President also said that Bullrich is "a soldier of this government" and rejected reports of an internal dispute. "I'm not discussing that issue yet. It's not the moment," he replied when asked whether he has her in mind as a vice presidential candidate. He also noted that the definition of strategies corresponds to the political table, while he focuses on "governance and the cultural battle." Milei also considered that a new electoral victory would function as a signal to investors. He claimed that after that "electoral test," the country risk could stand at 200 basis points and the Argentine economy could grow at rates of between 7% and 8%. During the interview, the head of state laid out a long-term projection for Argentina. He said that, with sustained growth, the country could double its gross domestic product in a decade and quadruple GDP per capita in 20 years. "In 15 to 20 years we become a developed country," he stated. "In ten years GDP doubles. That means that in 20 years you quadruple GDP per capita," he added. He then added that the country could become the world's leading power within a horizon of 30 to 40 years. Milei argued that these goals depend on the continuity of the reforms. Along those lines, he defended deregulation measures in sectors such as energy and mining, and mentioned the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI). The president and everyone else involved in the judicial investigation into the $Libra case were dismissed due to the absence of a crime The president again referred to the $Libra case and stated that, for one year, eight months and nine days, he was the subject of accusations he called false. He maintained that those narratives sought to damage his image and that of his government, and went so far as to suggest that behind that coverage there was an intention to bring about an early end to his term. Furthermore, he announced that, following his dismissal in the case, he will evaluate with his lawyers possible legal actions for the harm he believes he suffered. "It is evident that it was a corporate strategy in which the media was used to smear, slander me, stain my good name and honor, and attempt a coup d'état," he argued. Asked whether he considered that the situation could have led to an institutional rupture, he responded: "It wasn't that far off. Perhaps we should investigate whether they were part of those who sought the fall of the government and to put other figures in place to carry out this transition." Milei added that if those who offended him had apologized, it would not have compensated for the damage caused: "Does a simple little apology make up for all the damage they did?" he wondered. He also announced that he does not rule out initiating legal action: "I have to evaluate with my lawyers what we are going to do, because this is a scandal of enormous proportions," he stated. The president described what happened as "an extortion" that sought "to generate chaos" and "try to smear the figure of the president." The president also responded to the concern of those who do not yet perceive improvements in their incomes. He argued that the recovery of wages requires a process of rebuilding savings, investment and capital in the economy. "Don't ask me for miracles. I'm a human being. I do the best that can be done with the resources I have," he said. He then compared the country's situation to that of a person who must train and gain experience before improving their pay, and maintained that "this is built with work, with time." The president projected that an electoral victory would place country risk at 200 basis points with growth rates of up to 8%. (EFE/Mariscal) According to Milei, the structural reforms are being implemented without the effects that, in his view, are usually seen in other adjustment processes. He stated that the economy would close the first four years of his administration with accumulated growth of between 16% and 18%, though he did not specify the basis for that projection. He also claimed that the incomes of informal workers are about 60% above the level at the start of his administration and that unemployment is more than two points below the natural rate of unemployment. The figures were mentioned by the President during the interview and were not verified during the conversation. The President attributed part of his expectations to the deregulations pushed by his administration. He cited the elimination of the so-called "criollo barrel" and changes to the legislation related to glaciers as examples of measures that, he said, favored energy and mining investments. Milei stated that the RIGI gathers projects worth USD 210 billion, of which USD 70 billion would be approved. He defined the regime as "the most important industrial policy in Argentine history." In another part of the interview with Radio Mitre, the president insisted that the continuity of his program will depend on electoral backing. "I trust the Argentines," he maintained. He also stated that, once the electoral test that — he said — investors are demanding has been passed, "Argentina is going to begin its great takeoff," and reiterated that a victory for his political space would open a stage of greater growth for the country. The president also referred to the health of Pope Leo XIV and said that he puts the human issue above any other consideration. "The important thing is that the pope recovers and is well," he stated, adding that if that recovery takes place and the pontiff can travel to Argentina, the visit would represent "joy, blessings" for the country. The president expressed optimism about the possibility of that trip, though he stressed that the priority remains the Pope's state of health. Milei expressed that the most important thing is that the Pope recovers his health and that if he comes to the country it will be a "joy" and a "blessing" The President criticized those who, he said, do not wish for the visit to take place. He maintained that there are sectors of politics and journalism that "seem to wish he wouldn't come" and called that stance "pettiness." He recalled that 75% of Argentines are Catholic and recognize the Pope as their spiritual leader, and therefore considered it unjustified that political considerations be introduced around the issue. Milei devoted a portion of the interview to analyzing why Pope Francis had never traveled to Argentina during his papacy. He expressed that, in his view, the late pontiff avoided the visit so as not to generate "a political earthquake" in the country and that, according to his interpretation, that decision reflected a gesture of love toward his homeland. In that context, he defined Francis as "the most important Argentine in history" for his role as spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, though he clarified that that assessment belongs to a different category from the one occupied by Lionel Messi in football.