Javier Milei—the Argentine presidential candidate who rose to fame with a shock win in August's primary election—is popular among libertarians, who join him in wanting to eliminate the central bank, lower taxes, and privatize some state-owned industries. Yet as we near Sunday's elections, an in-depth look at his rhetoric and policy proposals raises questions about Milei's commitment to libertarian principles.
Milei's personal style is reminiscent of populist authoritarians such as Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Viktor Orbán of Hungary. Populists, whether from the left or the right, capitalize on social discontent, and Milei is no different. In his case, the economic turmoil in Argentina has created a political opportunity.
