President Milei Faces Major Loss in Buenos Aires Provincial Election

Sat Oct 18 2025 07:57:01 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Argentine President Javier Milei's party suffers a heavy defeat in a crucial provincial election, signaling potential challenges for upcoming congressional midterms.

In a significant political setback, Argentine President Javier Milei's La Libertad Avanza party captured only 34% of the vote in the Buenos Aires provincial election, trailing behind the Peronist opposition at 47%. Milei acknowledged the defeat and vowed to continue with his economic reforms despite internal challenges. The outcome raises concerns ahead of critical congressional midterms, which could impact the government's ability to implement policies in a struggling economy.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (FlashPoint) — Argentine President Javier Milei suffered a significant defeat on Sunday in the Buenos Aires provincial election, seen as a crucial test for his newly formed libertarian party, La Libertad Avanza.

His party garnered just 34% of the votes, losing decisively to the left-leaning Peronist opposition, which secured 47%, with most ballots counted late Sunday. In a somber address to supporters, Milei admitted to the 'clear defeat' and stated, 'We suffered a setback, and we must accept it responsibly.'

The president vowed to persist with his aggressive economic policies, declaring, 'There will be no retreat in government policy.' Despite this, analysts believe that the outcome could complicate Milei's ambitions in the upcoming congressional midterms, where his party needs to strengthen its influence.

Milei's party was expected to lose, but the scale of the defeat raises alarms about potential repercussions for his administration, particularly concerning investor confidence as Argentina grapples with economic turmoil marked by high inflation and unemployment.

His opponents, including former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, noted the election results as a chance for the Peronist party to reaffirm its influence amidst ongoing economic dissatisfaction among voters.

As the election outcome reverberates through political circles, many are closely watching how the president responds to this electoral wake-up call, with the stakes high for his future governance in a challenging economic landscape.