FIERY RIGHT-WING POPULIST MILEI WINS ARGENTINA’S PRESIDENCY
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Populist Javier Milei won Argentina’s presidential election Sunday, swinging the country to the right following a fiercely polarized campaign in which he promised a dramatic shake-up to the state to deal with soaring inflation and rising poverty.
With 97.6% of votes tallied in Sunday’s presidential runoff vote, Milei had 55.8% and Economy Minister Sergio Massa 44.2%, according to Argentina’s electoral authority. Presuming that margin holds, it would be the widest since Argentina’s return of democracy in 1983.
In his victory speech, the selfdescribed anarcho-capitalist who has been compared to former U.S. President Donald Trump said the “reconstruction of Argentina begins today.”
“There is no room for gradualism, no room for lukewarm measures,” Milei told supporters who chanted “liberty, liberty,” and “let them all leave” in a reference to the country’s political class.
‘Hunger Games’ prequel
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” topped the North American box office in its first weekend in theaters with $44 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
“Historically attempting to do prequels, especially with no returning cast, can be a very challenging proposition,” said Adam Fogelson, the vice chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “The fact that we’re sitting here at basically $100 million on opening weekend around the world is, I think, a testament to the quality of the movie, the quality of the talent that worked on the movie and a campaign that was both successful and efficient.”