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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHowever, building an \u201canti-political establishment\u201d discourse to present oneself as entirely different is one thing, and sustaining it in practice from within the government of a democracy is another. This can only occur in scenarios with a legislative majority, without the need for political consensus with other parties. This has not been Milei\u2019s scenario since taking office. His government has been and remains a minority (lacking a majority in both chambers of the National Congress).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result is that, sooner or later, the confrontational style of the current Argentine government would face greater resistance. The question was when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Popularity as a safeguard to the minority<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe arrival of La Libertad Avanza and Milei to power in 2023 took place in a context of minority at all political levels (without governors and with a minority in Congress), but with high popularity (he ranked among the most popular leaders in the world).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This popularity was built both on the unpopularity and disarray of the opposition and on \u201cmacroeconomic\u201d achievements (a decline in inflation and poverty). As political science literature suggests, the absence of opposition coordination combined with a popular leader increases the costs of opposing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These two factors allowed him, in the first year of his administration, to gain subnational support from provincial governments (including some Peronist ones) and from part of the opposition (mainly the PRO, the more dialogue-oriented faction) to approve some of the reforms he promoted (such as the \u201cBases Law\u201d) and to sustain vetoes against projects passed in Congress that he opposed under the zero-deficit narrative (such as the university budget or pension increases).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a way, these achievements were also the result of a \u201cpartial contextual adaptation\u201d of Milei\u2019s movement, in line with what was mentioned above: the \u201cus versus them\u201d discourse, typical of anti-establishment logic, was impossible to sustain against the entire opposition in a minority government. From the \u201cblank slate\u201d after the first-round elections, Mileism occasionally resorted to negotiation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this periodic negotiation (a form of realpolitik) with governors and parts of the opposition coexisted with a discourse, both public and on social media, that continued to be antagonistic (often even toward those with whom agreements were sought). This was even more evident with those who expressed reservations or criticisms of the model. The \u201copposition\u201d profiles have been diverse: cultural figures, retirees, university students, media outlets, healthcare personnel, lawmakers (who did not vote as the government wanted) in general, and Kirchnerists in particular\u2014even people with disabilities. None of these actors would be considered part of the \u201cgood Argentines.\u201d They are essentially the \u201cthem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem: nothing lasts forever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe \u201cpopularity\u201d of the disruptive, confrontational discourse (insulting toward the various sectors that raised objections) has begun to show signs of wear and fatigue. Milei\u2019s \u201cI will no longer insult\u201d is an initial indication of official recognition of this situation. According to the Government Confidence Index of the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Milei\u2019s administration currently has the lowest approval rating since his term began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cpopularity\u201d of the disruptive, confrontational discourse (insulting toward the various sectors that raised objections) has begun to show signs of wear and fatigue. Milei\u2019s \u201cI will no longer insult\u201d is an initial indication of official recognition of this situation. According to the Government Confidence Index of the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Milei\u2019s administration currently has the lowest approval rating since his term began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n