Argentina’s Election Sparks Clash of Ideologies: The ‘False Prophet’ vs. the Pope

Argentina’s Election Sparks Clash of Ideologies: The ‘False Prophet’ vs. the Pope

In ​one corner of the ring stands Javier Milei, 52, self-described former tantric sex ‍coach, outsider anarcho-capitalist⁣ and frontrunner in Argentina’s upcoming presidential elections; in the other, his compatriot Pope Francis, ‍86, world champion ⁣of the poor, repeatedly derided by Argentina’s likely next⁤ president as⁢ “a fucking⁣ communist”⁢ and “the representative of the evil one on Earth” ‍for promoting the doctrine of “social justice” to aid the underprivileged.

Milei, a political unknown​ until 2020, has pledged ‍to wage a “cultural‍ battle” to transform Argentina into a libertarian paradise where capitalist efficiency replaces social⁢ assistance, taxes are⁢ reduced to a minimum and cash-strapped individuals are allowed ⁣to sell their body organs on the⁢ open market.

From Rome, Pope ‍Francis has expressed grave concern about ‌the rise of such callous policies in ⁤his home country. “The extreme right always reconstructs itself, it is the ‍triumph of⁤ selfishness over communitarianism,” he said in a television interview in March when asked about Argentina’s upcoming elections.

In words that seemed‍ to be referring to Milei, the only candidate in the 22 October vote​ with no political experience prior⁢ to 2021, the pope added: “I am terrified of‍ saviours of‍ the nation without ​a‌ political party history.”

The⁤ pope’s doctrine ‌of social justice ​is​ synonymous to theft in ‌Milei’s Liberty Advances party because‍ it relies on‌ tax revenues. “Jesus didn’t ‌pay ⁢taxes,”​ Milei once ⁣tweeted, tagging the Pope’s official account.

In a vein-popping ⁤victory speech after Argentina’s‍ open primaries on 13 August, a tousle-haired Milei promised the demise of government benefits because they are “based on that atrocity that says ‌that where there ⁣is a need, a right is born, its⁢ maximum expression being that aberration called social⁤ justice”.

Milei has trolled Francis with repetitive toxic tweets calling⁤ him a‍ “communist turd”, a “piece of shit” and accusing the pontiff of “preaching communism ‍to the ​world”.

Pope Francis says he has grave concerns abut the rise of callous ‌policies in his home country. Photograph: Evandro Inetti/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Juan Grabois, a progressive Peronist with ‌close links⁢ to the pontiff, and​ who lost⁣ the Peronist candidacy to current economy minister Sergio Massa, calls Milei a “false‌ prophet” but ⁢attributes his rise to Argentina’s dire economic crisis.

“With inflation ‍over 115% plus a 25% drop in‌ the purchasing power ‌of ⁤informal workers in the last seven years, voters would have to possess impossible political maturity to vote‌ again for those who ​have failed them so completely,” ⁢Grabois told the Observer.

Voters disenchanted with‍ both ​the rightwing Together for Change party,‌ which held office up to 2019, and the incumbent Peronists ⁣have migrated in droves to newcomer Milei. “The music ‍of the pied piper sounds sweet to those‍ who have lost all hope. But there’s⁤ no point in blaming voters…

2023-08-27 ⁣02:30:01
Original from www.theguardian.com
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