Javier Milei wins Argentina presidential election

Argentine economist, author, and politician, Javier Milei has been elected president of Argentina, taking a chance on the eccentric economist’s program of radical economic reform after decades of stagnation.

The Mick Jagger impersonating TV celebrity-turned-politician, who is often compared to Donald Trump, during his campaign vowed to “exterminate” inflation and take a chainsaw to the state.

With more than 99% of votes counted, Milei had secured 55.69% of the vote compared with 44.3% for his rival, the center-left finance minister Sergio Massa.

In an address to Argentinians on Sunday night, Milei said his victory marked the beginning of the “reconstruction of Argentina.”

“Today begins the end of Argentina’s decline,” he said. “Today ends the impoverishing model of the omnipresent state, which only benefits some while the majority suffers.”

In Buenos Aires, hundreds of Milei supporters honked horns, set off fireworks, and chanted his popular refrain against the political elite, “Out with all of them!”, as rock music played.

Economic Minister Sergio Massa earlier conceded defeat as provisional results in the run-off election showed Milei with 56 percent of the vote to his 44 percent, with nearly 90 percent of votes counted.

“Obviously the results are not what we had hoped for, and I have spoken to Javier Milei to congratulate him and wish him well, because he is the president that the majority of Argentines have elected for the next four years,” Massa said.