Milei Rallies Support in Córdoba as Provincial Elections Approach
A last-minute push by Argentinian President Javier Milei to bolster support for his party’s candidate in Córdoba province was met with enthusiastic crowds and marred by incidents of violence, highlighting the intense political climate ahead of Sunday’s elections. The President’s visit aimed to inject “electoral adrenaline” into the campaign of Gonzalo Roca, a relatively unknown figure seeking to unseat the incumbent.
Milei’s tour began in the Nueva Córdoba neighborhood, a hub for university students, where approximately 2,500 supporters gathered around the vehicle carrying the President and his team. The crowd then accompanied the caravan to the Paseo del Buen Pastor.
“We are going in the right direction,” Milei declared to his supporters, acknowledging the challenges of enacting change after nearly two years in office. He reiterated familiar statistics, claiming that “12 million [people] were lifted out of poverty,” that inflation had plummeted from an annual rate of 20,000% before his administration, and that the number of protests had fallen to zero from 9,000 per year. Despite his optimistic message, a fervent supporter was overheard shouting a lengthy, impassioned endorsement of the President, prompting a confused inquiry from a friend: “What are you saying?” Milei’s voice was largely drowned out by the enthusiastic crowd.
The President emphasized the importance of validating the “ideas of freedom” at the polls. Accompanying Milei were his sister, Karina Milei, and campaign staff, including cameraman Santiago Oría, whose salary has drawn scrutiny. The focus of the visit was to rally support for Roca, with Milei directly urging voters to back his candidacy on Sunday. Libertarian supporters chanted a modified campaign song, targeting a political rival with the refrain, “Olé, olé, olé, olé, olá, vote for Roca, Schiaretti is gagá.”
However, the campaign faces an uphill battle. Recent indicators suggest that the incumbent, Schiaretti, poses a significant challenge to La Libertad Avanza. In a move interpreted by some as a concession, Milei ultimately decided to conclude his campaign in Rosario rather than Córdoba. To bolster Roca’s chances, the libertarians brought in high-profile figures, including Patricia Bullrich and Minister Luis Caputo, who addressed supporters at the Stock Exchange.
The rally was not without incident. A journalistic team from Channel 10 of Córdoba was attacked on San Lorenzo street, with cameraman Horacio Di Franco sustaining a head injury and reporter Fernanda González having her cell phone stolen. Multiple robberies were reported as the presidential caravan passed through the crowded streets, despite a heavy security presence from police, the Gendarmerie, and the Military House. Following the event, some supporters were overheard questioning Roca’s identity, prompting clarification that he is the lead candidate for Sunday’s election. [A chart showing polling data for the Córdoba provincial election would be beneficial here.]
Simultaneously, Natalia de la Sota, the candidate for Defendamos Córdoba, held her closing campaign rally at the Studio Theater. Surrounded by union representatives and university political organizations, de la Sota sharply criticized the current administration, stating, “We are the clear, clear option that is going to go to the National Congress to say no to Javier Milei, that we are not going to become short-term opponents.” She accused previous administrations of failing to recognize the potential consequences of supporting Milei’s policies, arguing that they had provided him with “tools of destruction” rather than governance.
