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Far-right outsider Milei wins Argentina presidential run-off election
Far-right libertarian outsider Javier Milei has won Argentina’s presidential run-off poll, according to provisional results.
Milei’s rival, economy minister Sergio Massa, called him to concede.
Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Milei on his victory, saying he would “Make Argentina Great Again!”.
The election comes at a difficult time for Argentina with rising inflation and an economy in crisis on peoples’ minds.
Milei’s proposals, which included detonating the central bank, won support with voters desperate for change.He confounded pollsters by easily defeating the candidate of the governing Peronists, provisionally by more than 10 points.
Provisional results showed Milei had nearly 56% of the vote compared with 44% for Massa, with almost 90% of votes counted.
“Obviously the results are not what we expected. I have contacted Javier Milei to congratulate him,” Massa said. “From tomorrow the responsibility of providing certainty belongs to Milei.”
It was a close race to the very end but the former pundit who at one point wielded a chainsaw on the campaign trail, won out.
A man who has been likened to former US President Donald Trump, and ex-Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, Javier Milei is untested. But that was part of his appeal.
His talk of introducing the US dollar as the country’s official currency was met with applause by his supporters. Many economists though talk of financial disaster.
No matter, in a country where annual inflation is now over 140% and two in five people live in poverty, his win proves that Argentinians are fed up with traditional politics and economic disaster. His victory means they are willing to try something new in an effort to make their lives better.
Reacting to the result, former President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “The whole world was watching! I am very proud of you.”You will turn your country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again!”
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan congratulated Milei on his election “and to the people of Argentina for holding free and fair elections”.
Posting on X, he said the US would “look forward to building on our strong bilateral relationship based on our shared commitment to human rights, democratic values, and transparency”.
South American leaders have also been commenting on Milei’s victory, with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posting: “I wish good luck and success to the new government. Argentina is a great country and deserves all our respect. Brazil will always be available to work together with our Argentine brothers,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
On the campaign trail, the president-elect publicly criticised Lula’s policies and branded him an “angry communist”.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said the result of the election was “sad for Latin America. Neoliberalism no longer has a proposal for society, it cannot respond to humanity’s current problems,” he posted on X.
But Chile’s President Gabriel Boric said he saluted Milei “for his victory and Sergio Massa for his worthy recognition of defeat”. He posted on X: “I wish the Argentine people the best and know that they will always have our respect and support.”
(BBC)
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Cabinet green light to obtain a grant from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund for post – disaster relief and rehabilitation activities
On a request made by the government of Sri Lanka, the Asian Development Bank has given its concurrence to provide a grant of United States dollars 3 million under Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund.
It is expected to supply materials required for providing essential life security services for the communities affected, from the said grant.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the President as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to enter into the relevant agreements with the Asian Development Bank to obtain the said grant.
Business
Cabinet approves establishment of two 50 MW wind power stations in Mullikulum, Mannar region
Adhering to the broad plan of the Government to reach the objective of accomplishing 70% of the country’s electricity supply from renewable energy sources by the year 2030, the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted on 10.02.2025 to invite requests for resolutions from interested developers of the private sector in order to implement the Mullikulum Wind Power – 100 Mega Watts (two (02) wind power stations of
50 Mega Watts each) on the basis of construction, ownership and execution with a monitoring period of 20 years.
Accordingly, requests for proposals have been called to implement the relevant project by adhering to the international competitive bidding methodology, and seven (7) prospective project proposals were submitted.
Evaluating the said proposals, based on the recommendations submitted by the negotiation committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Power to award the contracts of establishing the two (02) 50 Mega Watts Wind
Power Stations to Consortium of Vidullanka PLC & David Pieris Motor Company (Lanka) Limited and WindForce PLC.
Latest News
Cabinet approves the purchase of vehicles to improve the primary health care system across the island
The Government of Sri Lanka has signed a financial agreement with the International Development Association of the World Bank Group to obtain US$ 150 million under the project for improvement of Primary Health Care System.
This project will be implemented covering all the districts in Sri Lanka during the period 2024 to 2028 with the objective of prevention and management of non- communicable diseases,
elderly and palliative care, including strengthening community level services and building resilience to climate related emergencies.
Insufficient transport facilities for the field officers (Public Health Midwives, public health inspectors, primary care nurses, and surveillance teams) has been identified as decisive obstacles relevant to this project.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to procure the below mentioned vehicles necessary to improve the transport capacity for broadening house based care and community relationship coverage, improve the efficiency of field tests and supervisory work, ensure the transport of clinical waste materials safely and proper time.
• 26 clinical waste materials transport lorries
• 26 Double Cabs
• 05 vans with 10 seats
• 02 buses with 42 seats
• 2,891 scooters for Public Health Midwives
• 200 scooters for Public Health Nurses
• 1,350 Motor Bicycles for public health inspectors
• 200 scooters for laboratory Services
• 20 trucks with Refrigerators for the Medical Supply Division
• 08 Fork lifts for the Medical Supply Division
• A crew cab for the Divisional Health Office – Puttalam
• An ambulance fleet for the Jaffna district
Cabinet green light to obtain a grant from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund for post – disaster relief and rehabilitation activities
Cabinet approves establishment of two 50 MW wind power stations in Mullikulum, Mannar region
Cabinet approves the purchase of vehicles to improve the primary health care system across the island
Cabinet approves the transfer of the constructions and land reserved for the Kiinniya University to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism
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