Music instead of reforms: Argentina's president holds concert amid protests and scandals
Photo: Argentine President Javier Milei (Getty Images)
Argentine President Javier Milei held a rock concert in Buenos Aires in an attempt to boost his ratings amid an economic crisis and political scandals, according to The Guardian.
On Monday, October 7, Argentina’s 54-year-old populist president, and former frontman of a Rolling Stones tribute band, Javier Milei, took the stage at Buenos Aires’ Movistar Arena, hoping that a rock concert would help boost his approval ratings and rally his supporters.
“Olé, olé, olé, olé! Milei! Milei!” chanted thousands of fans as the president shouted from the stage. "I’m human," he told the packed stadium. "It might not seem like it, but I am."
Milei's record in office
Milei rose to power nearly two years ago, promising to "eradicate" Argentina’s runaway inflation and slash public spending through radical reforms.
At first, his austerity policies appeared to work: triple-digit inflation started to decline, earning praise from international economists and politicians, including Donald Trump.
But in recent weeks, Milei’s self-proclaimed "economic revolution" has begun to unravel. Markets were spooked by political uncertainty, the peso plunged, and the government was forced to burn through scarce foreign-currency reserves to steady the situation.
The collapse of confidence has been reflected politically as well: in September, Milei’s party La Libertad Avanza suffered a crushing defeat in the Buenos Aires provincial elections, home to nearly 40 percent of Argentina’s population.
Adding to the turmoil, one of Milei’s closest allies, José Luis Espert, was forced to withdraw his candidacy after admitting to receiving $200,000 from a businessman allegedly linked to drug trafficking.
Crisis of confidence
Journalists and analysts now describe Argentina’s situation as a deepening Milei crisis: eroding public trust, governance troubles, and sweeping budget cuts hitting pensioners, hospitals, universities, and ordinary families alike.
The country’s economic plight has become so dire that last month, Donald Trump even proposed offering Argentina an emergency financial aid package worth up to $20 billion.
Still, die-hard supporters filled the arena, insisting that the president needed more time.
"The country is a shambles. We’re not going to say it’s great – it’s a shambles," said Oscar Luis Osorio, a 54-year-old shopkeeper who came dressed as a lion.
Earlier, the murder of three women broadcast live sparked massive protests across Argentina. And recently, President Milei had to be evacuated from a campaign event after protesters pelted his car with stones amid a corruption scandal involving his sister, Karina Milei.
