Milei’s party suffers major defeat in key provincial test election

Monday 08 September 2025 - 07:45

By: Sahili Aya

Milei’s party suffers major defeat in key provincial test election

The party of Argentine President Javier Milei suffered a significant setback on Sunday, losing by a wide margin to the Peronist opposition in a key provincial election in Buenos Aires. The vote is seen as a crucial test ahead of the midterm legislative elections scheduled for October.

With 88% of ballots counted, Milei’s libertarian party, La Libertad Avanza, secured just under 34% of the vote, while the center-left Peronist coalition Fuerza Patria reached nearly 47%. Buenos Aires province, home to more than one-third of Argentina’s electorate, remains a stronghold of Peronism.

This marked the first major electoral test for Milei since taking office in December 2023. His administration has pursued a radical program to revive the economy—plagued by chronic inflation and debt—through sharp cuts in public spending.

The 13-point gap contradicted most polls, which had predicted a tighter race, albeit with a slight advantage for the opposition.

Despite the defeat, Milei’s alliance with the center-right PRO party of former president Mauricio Macri is expected to double its representation in the Buenos Aires provincial assembly, increasing from 12 to about 24 seats out of 92.

The vote comes at a sensitive time for Milei’s government. Inflation has been reduced to 17.3% in the first seven months of 2025, compared to 87% during the same period in 2024. Yet scandals and legislative setbacks have weakened his administration.

A recent bribery controversy at the National Disability Agency has raised political tensions, with Milei’s sister, Karina Milei—secretary general of the presidency—facing indirect scrutiny, though not directly charged.

Last week, Congress overturned a presidential veto for the first time since Milei took office, approving additional funding for people with disabilities. Meanwhile, economic concerns persist, as the government has begun intervening in the currency market to slow the peso’s depreciation ahead of October’s elections.