BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) 鈥 Batman and the Joker, a man decked out in a full-body lion costume, and another whose head and arms have been replaced by chainsaws. This isn鈥檛 Carnival or Comic-Con, but rather the outlandish campaign rally for Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei.
In just a few short years, the right-wing populist Milei went from being a television talking head who garnered high ratings with his unrestrained outbursts against a 鈥減olitical caste鈥 he blamed for Argentina鈥檚 perennial economic woes to a . He even dabbled in cosplay, dressing up as 鈥淕eneral AnCap,鈥 short for anarcho-capitalist, at a 2019 event.
Just as his candidacy started as a made-for-television spectacle, his followers picked up the baton and have often turned rallies into opportunities to show their devotion to their candidate using props that go viral on social media.
Shortly after he first appeared on television, the self-described libertarian grew a cult-like following among those drawn to his no-nonsense style. His appeal seems to lie in his ability to channel anger that Argentines feel against the ruling class amid red-hot triple-digit inflation and rising poverty.
Once seen as a sideshow in Argentine politics, Milei managed to parlay his success as a talking head into a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, Argentina鈥檚 lower house of Congress, in 2021. He then launched what looked like a long-shot presidential bid, but rocked Argentina鈥檚 political establishment when he received the most votes in the country鈥檚 August primaries, a national contest seen as a massive poll of voter preferences.
Milei was predicted to have an edge for the October vote, but finished second, with 30% of the vote, almost seven points below .
Milei and Massa are facing off in the Nov. 19 runoff, and pre-election polls show a virtual tie with a large number of undecideds who will be key in deciding the race.
Often called Argentina鈥檚 Donald Trump, Milei espouses a mixture of love for the ideals of capitalism with socially conservative policies, including an opposition to abortion, which Argentina legalized in 2020.
Many of his followers have embraced the Trump comparison. 鈥淢ake Argentina Great Again鈥 hats and T-shirts are a common sight at his events, a reference to Trump鈥檚 slogan, 鈥淢ake America Great Again.鈥 That鈥檚 hardly the only U.S.-inspired reference.
The yellow Gadsen flag with a rattlesnake and the words 鈥渄on鈥檛 tread on me鈥 is a historical U.S. symbol often associated with the libertarian right, which Milei and his supporters have adopted.
Some followers also use props to mimic the chainsaw that to symbolize what he wants to do with state spending.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 get involved politically at all in the past,鈥 said Mart铆n Arga帽araz, a 47-year-old artisan, who carried a chainsaw made out of cardboard at a recent Milei rally in Buenos Aires. 鈥淲hat brought me here is seeing how politicians are getting richer and richer.鈥
Some of Milei鈥檚 loyalists dress up as him, while others don lion masks, because the candidate often compares himself to the king of the jungle.
Wherever Milei goes, a small army of entrepreneurial street hawkers follow, selling merchandise inspired by the economist whose followers have lovingly nicknamed him 鈥渢he wig,鈥 a reference to his signature unkempt hair.
Polls show that the word Argentines 鈥 both his supporters and opponents -- most often associate with Milei is 鈥渃razy.鈥
Sebasti谩n Borrego, 51, and his 12-year-old son traveled 21 miles from their hometown to attend a Milei rally in the capital last month. In a show of support, Borrego wore a homemade lion mask.
鈥淲e need a leader who can take us to a new way of life that we Argentinians need,鈥 Borrego roared. 鈥淭he fight is just getting started.鈥 ____
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