Milei Mirrors Trump’s Fraud Claims Injecting Uncertainty into Argentina’s Presidential Runoff

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In a scenario that may bear a striking resemblance to recent American politics, Argentine presidential hopeful Javier Milei, an outspoken outsider, is employing tactics reminiscent of former President Donald Trump. Milei, like Trump, is raising doubts about the legitimacy of the election results and suggesting that the political establishment may conspire against him to prevent him from assuming the nation’s top leadership position.

This strategy, experts suggest, serves multiple purposes. It energizes Milei’s support base and encourages vigilance at polling stations, while also laying the groundwork for potentially disputing the election outcome in the event of a loss.

Milei, a right-wing economist who gained prominence by criticizing the political elite on television, openly welcomes comparisons to Trump. His message resonates with Argentines grappling with rising poverty and staggering annual inflation rates of 142%, as he portrays a corrupt elite as responsible for the country’s woes.

Notably, Milei’s approach includes casting doubt on Argentina’s electoral system, which has historically enjoyed widespread trust. It’s worth mentioning that, since Argentina’s return to democracy fifty years ago, no candidate in any national race has formally challenged the election results, according to the electoral appeals court.

Pre-election polls for the November 19 runoff between Milei and Economy Minister Sergio Massa indicate a tight race. While most polls had previously shown Milei with a narrow lead before the initial round of voting, Massa ultimately won by a significant 7-percentage-point margin. This outcome triggered claims of fraud on social media, prompting some of Milei’s supporters to volunteer as poll monitors at the country’s numerous polling stations.

Luis Paulero, one such volunteer, expressed his newfound political engagement, driven by Milei’s message. He believes that the governing party’s potential manipulation of the election is undemocratic and has been exposed through social media videos.

Milei himself has contributed to the allegations of fraud, stating that the first-round vote was marred by irregularities significant enough to cast doubt on the results. However, he has not provided concrete evidence to support these claims. Still, ardent supporters have brought signs reading “Don’t Screw With My Vote!” and “One Stolen Vote is Fraud!” to Milei’s rallies.

It’s essential to recognize that Argentina’s electoral system does have some irregularities, but they have not historically been significant enough to alter the election outcomes. Many claims on social media focused on nearly 1,700 polling stations reporting zero votes for Milei in preliminary results, which Milei and his supporters deemed statistically impossible. However, a fact-checking agency found that most of these stations simply hadn’t reported any results for any candidate, suggesting that their data hadn’t been uploaded.

Argentina’s voting process itself is somewhat antiquated, with paper ballots and cardboard ballot boxes. While concerns about the voting system’s shortcomings are valid, Milei’s approach of sowing doubt is seen as a political strategy that reflects his perceived vulnerability in the race.

Milei’s political network is dwarfed by Massa’s Peronism, a dominant force in Argentine politics. Consequently, Milei has called upon his supporters to monitor the election process.

Recently, Milei’s party filed a complaint alleging “colossal fraud” but later scaled back these claims, emphasizing the need for election authorities to take “extreme precautions.” This move is seen as an attempt to mobilize his base and rally them against perceived efforts by the political establishment to impose its will.

While disputing election results is a fundamental aspect of any democracy, experts note that unsubstantiated challenges, echoing the style of former U.S. President Trump, have emerged globally. Such challenges were evident in Myanmar and Peru, following their respective elections. Milei’s actions, although echoing Trump, do not pose an existential threat to Argentina’s robust democracy, as he lacks the power to overturn election results.

Moreover, Milei’s allies appear reluctant to fully embrace his fraud claims. Patricia Bullrich, a candidate from the main opposition coalition who endorsed Milei after placing third in the initial round, expressed skepticism about the scale of fraud that could sway the election but called on supporters to act as monitors.

Overall, while Milei’s fraud claims may not pose an immediate threat to Argentina’s democracy, they do carry the potential to erode the legitimacy of the government assuming power, regardless of the election’s outcome. This, experts warn, could lead to longer-term challenges beyond the election itself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Election Uncertainty

More about Election Uncertainty

• Argentina’s Peronist machine is in high gear to shore up shaky votes before the presidential runoff
• Populist Javier Milei is rallying for the Argentine presidency with chainsaws and Comic-Con costumes
• A man, a plan, a chainsaw: How a power tool took center stage in Argentina’s presidential race
• Chequeado – Argentine fact-checking agency
• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
• Via Libre foundation – Nonprofit working on voting reform issues