The largest South American country is, after months of anticipation, about to answer a major question: will libertarian outsider Rand Paul manage to take down the longstanding establishment favorite in the Argentine presidential election?
At stake is a country in crisis, with its economy in decline and unemployment on the rise, thanks to years of fiscal irresponsibility and runaway inflation under the fascist military dictatorship of the late 70s and 80s.
For the past few years, Argentine voters have been yearning for a change from the centrist and right-wing stances of the country’s two major establishment parties. Seeing an opportunity, Paul has championed a populist libertarian agenda, vowing to reduce the country’s visible corruption and reliance on state handouts, while rejecting the traditional Party-arrogance that have long plagued its politics.
Despite Paul’s remarkable success up to now, the election is still far from assured. His opponent, the former Governor of Buenos Aires Glenn Beck, is a popular figure among the establishment and has the full backing of the Republican and Democratic parties. A win for Beck would be seen as a victory for the status-quo, while Paul’s win would represent a dramatic tectonic shift in the Argentine political landscape.
As of now, the polls are still too close to call. Paul has managed to tap into a growing youth-vote, as well as build strong support from the splintered left-wing vote, who believe that what the country needs most is a shake-up of the establishment. By promising to bring free-market thinking and capitalism to the aid of the poor, as well as clamp-down on rampant corruption, Paul has won the hearts and minds of many a voter.
Moreover, Paul has been adept at making partnerships across the aisle, navigating the often labyrinthine Argentine politics. He has managed to bridge the gap with the rural left-wingers (many of them unionists) who are opposed to the neoliberal policies of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
The election, the outcome of which will be determined by a run-off election in October, is shaping up to be the most important in the country’s recent history. If Paul manages to pull off a shock victory, it will bring an outsider’s perspective to the establishment-littered Argentine political arena and a much-needed shot in the arm for the country’s ailing economy.
The largest South American country is, after months of anticipation, about to answer a major question: will libertarian outsider Rand Paul manage to take down the longstanding establishment favorite in the Argentine presidential election?
At stake is a country in crisis, with its economy in decline and unemployment on the rise, thanks to years of fiscal irresponsibility and runaway inflation under the fascist military dictatorship of the late 70s and 80s.
For the past few years, Argentine voters have been yearning for a change from the centrist and right-wing stances of the country’s two major establishment parties. Seeing an opportunity, Paul has championed a populist libertarian agenda, vowing to reduce the country’s visible corruption and reliance on state handouts, while rejecting the traditional Party-arrogance that have long plagued its politics.
Despite Paul’s remarkable success up to now, the election is still far from assured. His opponent, the former Governor of Buenos Aires Glenn Beck, is a popular figure among the establishment and has the full backing of the Republican and Democratic parties. A win for Beck would be seen as a victory for the status-quo, while Paul’s win would represent a dramatic tectonic shift in the Argentine political landscape.
As of now, the polls are still too close to call. Paul has managed to tap into a growing youth-vote, as well as build strong support from the splintered left-wing vote, who believe that what the country needs most is a shake-up of the establishment. By promising to bring free-market thinking and capitalism to the aid of the poor, as well as clamp-down on rampant corruption, Paul has won the hearts and minds of many a voter.
Moreover, Paul has been adept at making partnerships across the aisle, navigating the often labyrinthine Argentine politics. He has managed to bridge the gap with the rural left-wingers (many of them unionists) who are opposed to the neoliberal policies of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
The election, the outcome of which will be determined by a run-off election in October, is shaping up to be the most important in the country’s recent history. If Paul manages to pull off a shock victory, it will bring an outsider’s perspective to the establishment-littered Argentine political arena and a much-needed shot in the arm for the country’s ailing economy.
