Almost one year into office now, Javier Milei is, to the shock of Argentine pundits, having a moment. Not only does the right-wing disruptor have an ally and fellow traveler in Trump—a crucial development for a leader whose country desperately needs foreign aid—but on the economic front, he’s been racking up victories. Inflation is tumbling from a peak of almost 300%; a long-running budget deficit has turned into a surplus; government bonds, once seen as almost certain to sink back into default, are rallying; and the long-moribund economy is finally starting to rebound. However, poverty in his country just soared past 50%. Javier Milei Photographer: Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg |