Milei, a political unknown until 2020, has pledged to wage a "cultural battle" to transform Argentina into a libertarian paradise where capitalist efficiency replaces social assistance, taxes are reduced to a minimum and cash-strapped individuals are allowed to sell their body organs.
From Rome, Pope Francis has expressed concern about the rise of such callous policies in his home country. "The extreme right always reconstructs itself, it is the triumph of selfishness over communitarianism," he said in an interview in March when asked about Argentina's elections.
The pope's doctrine of social justice is synonymous to theft in Milei's Liberty Advances party because it relies on tax revenues. In a vein-popping victory speech after Argentina's open primaries on 13 August, a tousle-haired Milei promised the demise of government benefits because they are "based on that atrocity that says that where there is a need, a right is born, its maximum expression being that aberration called social justice".
Milei has trolled Francis with repetitive toxic tweets calling him a "communist turd", a "piece of shit" and accusing the pontiff of "preaching communism to the world".
Denne historien er fra September 01, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra September 01, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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