Bizarre video shows radical new president’s ‘plans’ to abolish all government departments | World | News

Bizarre video shows Argentina’s president-elect revealing plans to remove key government ministries.

Right-wing populist Javier Milei plunged the South American country into the unknown after defeating Economy Minister Sergio Massa, 55.7 percent to 44.3 percent in Argentina’s presidential election.

Questions were raised about the extreme nature of the libertarian economist’s policies after the campaign saw Mr Milei, 53, rev up a chainsaw to symbolically reduce the size of the state.

In a video widely shared on social media, Mr Milei can be seen tearing strips from a whiteboard, each bearing the names of different government departments.

The footage shows Mr Milei shouting “Out!” » after naming ministries such as the Ministries of Education, Public Works, Transport, Women, Health and Culture, before scamming them in turn.

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Mr. Milei began to further outline his political plans on Monday (November 20), saying in a radio interview that he would quickly move forward with his plan to privatize state media about which he had received negative coverage during his campaign and which he considered “a secret ministry”. propaganda.

In another bizarre outburst, Mr Milei also said he wants to take back the Falkland Islands from Great Britain.

The president-elect said state-owned energy company YPF should eventually be privatized, but first it must be repaired so it can be “sold in a way that is very, very, very beneficial to Argentines.”

He told Miter radio in Bueno Aires: “Everything that can be in the hands of the private sector will be.”

Mr. Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist with a shaggy mop of hair, made his name by furiously denouncing the “political caste” on Argentine television.

His commitment to abrupt and severe change resonated with Argentines, weary of annual inflation topping 140 percent and a poverty rate reaching 40 percent.

Once in power, he declared that he would reduce public spending, dollarize the economy and eliminate Argentina’s Central Bank.

A fan of former US President Donald Trump, Mr Milei has presented himself as a crusader against the sinister drift of global socialism with plans to purge the government of corrupt establishment politicians.

However, in the weeks leading up to the runoff, he walked back some of his most unpopular proposals, such as loosening gun controls and sweeping, indiscriminate privatization.

Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America program at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said: “Hang on to your hat.”

He added: “Milei has recently toned down his anti-establishment rage and downplayed his more outlandish proposals, but it’s going to be a wild ride, given his combative style, his inexperience and the few allies he has in Congress.”