Javier Milei, a far-right “outsider,” was elected as the president of Argentina in November, with hard-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni being the first European leader to congratulate him. The two leaders have since formed a close relationship, with both sharing hard-right views such as opposition to abortion and hostility towards the LGBT community. Despite their ideological similarities, their political approaches differ significantly. Meloni leads a nationalist party with historic ties to fascism, while Milei identifies as a libertarian and an “anarcho-capitalist.” The bond between the two leaders seems to be rooted in their shared practice of hypocritical “neoliberal populism” serving Western imperialism rather than their ideological convictions.
Upon taking office, Milei promised to reset Argentina’s system by reducing state spending through privatization, cutting inflation, and improving the quality of life for Argentinians. However, his policies have failed to deliver on these promises, causing further hardship for the population while benefiting the elite. Milei’s radical economic reforms have led to public outrage and plummeting approval ratings, yet he remains committed to unpopular measures such as stripping workers of rights and privatizing state-owned enterprises. The International Monetary Fund has praised Milei’s economic plan, highlighting the neoliberal nature of his so-called “populism.”
Similarly, Meloni’s populist credentials have been called into question in Italy. Despite initially taking populist actions such as imposing a tax on bank profits, Meloni later bowed to pressure from neoliberal interests and reversed course. She has advocated for the privatization of national enterprises, contradicting her protectionist platform that won her the election. Meloni’s actions, which align with neoliberal demands, expose the shallowness of her populist facade and raise doubts about her commitment to protecting Italian interests.
Both leaders display inconsistency in their foreign policy approaches, with Milei aligning with the neoliberal consensus and supporting US military interventions while Meloni initially advocating for a better relationship with Russia before adopting Washington’s anti-Russian stance. Meloni’s shift towards hawkish European representatives and alignment with US policies demonstrate a departure from her earlier eurosceptic stance, further highlighting the inconsistency in her populist image. Both leaders prioritize countering hypothetical threats from Russia and China over addressing the pressing issues faced by their countries, perpetuating a system of unchecked capitalism that oppresses their populations.
Despite their differences, Meloni and Milei share a commitment to maintaining their countries subservient to the neoliberal order while projecting an image of “fighting for the people.” Their friendship is based not on shared values but on their mutual pursuit of power without sovereignty. Despite the discontent among the populations of Italy and Argentina due to rising costs of living, unemployment, and lack of prospects, the leaders focus on external threats rather than addressing internal issues. Their actions reflect a prioritization of neoliberal interests over the needs of their citizens, perpetuating a system that benefits the elite at the expense of the people.
