Inserts:

00:03 Report / Alejandro Rebossio
00:24 Patricio Martín / Student, University of Hurlingham
00:42 Patricio Martín / Student, University of Hurlingham
01:20 Carolina Ibánez / Social worker with a disability
01:30 Mauro Stefanizzi / President of the Argentine Association of Electrodependents
01:58 Hernán Reyes / Political consultant
02:56Alejandro Rebossio / DW Reporter

Script 

The self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei came to power in Argentina in 2023. Young people overwhelmingly backed him, making him an influential figure for the global far right. But two years later, some are disillusioned, like student Patricio Martín.

0.22
Patricio Martín
Student, University of Hurlingham

“I really believed that this outsider, as he calls himself, was going to come and take down the establishment.”

Milei drastically reduced almost all government spending, including for universities, which he cut by 30% at the expense of professors’ salaries and infrastructure.

0.41
Patricio Martín
Student, University of Hurlingham

“I truly expected the cuts to fall on the political elite, but instead he reduced the budget for us—the university students, the teachers, the retirees. The elite is still there, and he keeps serving the interests of the powerful people.”

This Sunday, Argentina is holding the midterm legislative elections and young people like Patricio plan to punish Milei by voting for the left.

Milei also cut aid for people with disabilities. Those cuts came as a scandal broke out: His administration was allegedly involved in taking bribes from makers of medicine for disabled people. Last Wednesday, people in Buenos Aires came out to protest.

1.18
Carolina Ibánez
Social worker with a disability
“He went beyond what he had proposed, and it’s frightening what he might still do. The benefit payments aren’t coming in, which means professionals like us are not being paid.”

1.28
Mauro Stefanizzi
President of the Argentine Association of Electrodependents
“That registry of electro-dependents, which grants the right to free electricity service, has already been cut by more than 35%.”

1.37
Vox pop 3
“First they attacked people with disabilities, saying we had fake pensions, and now they’ve taken away all our support staff, not paying them. And that’s why we’re protesting here today.”

Political consultant Hernán Reyes notes that although some young people feel disillusioned with Milei, most still support him, although without the enthusiasm they once had.

1.58
Hernán Reyes
Political consultant
“Milei had two main mandates. One was to bring down inflation, and the other was to fight this political system. After the past year and several corruption cases, that fight has become highly questionable.”

Milei reduced inflation from 160% to 32%, but unemployment has increased, and wages have been reduced. 

At the University of Lanús in a suburb of Buenos Aires, some students still support him despite the cuts to their budget.

2.33
Vox pop 4
“He is doing fairly well. I agree with a lot of things, just not with these budget cuts”

2.36
Vox pop 5
“We can’t go back. We’ve had the same thing for 20 years and it hasn’t worked. I really think we need to give something new a chance.”

Of the 22 years preceding Milei, left-wing politics governed for 18 years. That same ideology now seeks to defeat Milei on Sunday.

2.55
Alejandro Rebossio
DW Reporter

“The extreme pro‑market and anti‑state model led by Javier Milei in Argentina, which has been held up as an example in other parts of the world, is at stake this Sunday in his government’s midterm election.”

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