Argentina President Milei Suffers Setback in Buenos Aires Provincial Vote

Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei suffered a significant defeat in the Buenos Aires provincial election, where his La Libertad Avanza party garnered around 34% of the vote compared to nearly 47% for the left-leaning Peronist opposition. The election is seen as a crucial test of Milei's support ahead of the upcoming congressional midterms and signals challenges for his radical libertarian agenda amid a struggling economy and austerity measures. Milei acknowledged the loss as a clear defeat and urged his supporters to accept the results responsibly. The setback highlights public dissatisfaction with his austerity programs and economic reforms, which, despite stabilizing the peso, have imposed hardships on the working class. Peronist leader Cristina Fernández de Kirchner capitalized on the victory, criticizing Milei's policies and rhetoric on social media. Analysts view the outcome as a key indicator of the social mood and political balance in Argentina's most populous province, with implications for the national political landscape.