Annual inflation of 114% is pushing Argentina to the right
Patricia Bullrich and Javier Milei are rising in the polls for this year’s presidential election
Saturday June 24th will be a momentous day in Argentina: Lionel Messi, a superstar footballer, will turn 36. It is also the day the election season officially begins in the country. As politicians limber up to compete as presidential hopefuls for the poll later this year, they face a daunting backdrop. The annual inflation rate, of 114%, is the world’s third-highest. The share of people who cannot afford basic foodstuffs and services has risen from 30% in 2018 to 43% today. Unsurprisingly, the main concern of voters is the economy. And it is pushing them to favour politicians who offer radical fixes to their country’s economic malaise.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “It’s still the economy, stupid”
From the June 24th 2023 edition
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