An Argentine politician, who has previously spoken positively about Bitcoin
With over 90% of the votes counted, libertarian pro-Bitcoin candidate Javier Milei is leading with nearly 32%. He is trailed by the conservative Together for Change (Juntos por el Cambio) party, with just under 30%, according to Bloomberg data.
Meanwhile, the left-wing Union for the Homeland (Unión por la Patria) coalition — the incumbent government’s group — is third with just over 28.5% of the vote.
The primary elections determine the final candidates for a presidential ballot which is set for October. The results can be seen as an early gauge ahead of the general election.
Milei founded and leads the Liberty Advances (La Libertad Avanza) coalition, whose views have been described as anywhere between libertarian and far-right.
Milei calls himself an anarcho-capitalist, has rallied for Argentina’s central bank to be abolished , calling it a scam, and has said human organ sales are “just another market.”
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He has said Bitcoin is a reaction against “central bank scammers” and claimed fiat currency allows politicians to scam Argentines with inflation.
Such rhetoric has proven popular with Argentina’s voters, who face an annual inflation rate of 116% — the worst in over three decades , adding to the country’s cost of living crisis.
Argentina’s general presidential election will be held on Oct. 22. If no candidate secures at least 45% of votes, a run-off election will be held in November.
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