Argentina Runoff, Sam Altman, and the Facial Hair Championships

Argentina Elections 

Argentinian voters head to the polls tomorrow as Economy Minister Sergio Massa and outsider candidate Javier Milei face off in the country's presidential runoff. The election is seen as one of the most pivotal in modern history for the third most populous country in South America, home to 46 million people and burdened by an economic crisis. Argentina faces year-over-year inflation of 142.7%, with 40% of the country's population living in poverty. 

The two candidates represent opposite sides of the political spectrum. Massa, 51, is a member of the ruling Peronist coalition (see overview) and received the highest share of votes (36.7%) in last month's elections compared to Milei (30%). Massa supports a social safety net and seeks to cut taxes, among other plans.

Milei, 53, is a self-described anarcho-capitalist known for wielding a chain saw at campaign rallies—a symbol of his plans to cut government spending. Milei's proposals include abolishing the country's central bank and ditching the Argentine peso for the US dollar.

See a comparison of the two candidates here.

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