Milei says running mate chosen but keeps name secret for now

President Javier Milei has declared that his choice for a running mate in the upcoming re-election bid is settled, though he is withholding the individual's identity for the time being. This decision comes amid noted tensions with his current vice president, Victoria Villarruel, who had previously expressed concern over Milei's public statements.

Milei used an interview to also renew his criticism of Argentina's Primary, Open, Simultaneous, and Obligatory (PASO) elections, labeling them a wasteful expenditure of taxpayer money. He argued that these internal party contests should be resolved privately and that the $250 million annual cost could be better allocated. Milei expressed hope that Congress would support their elimination.

Economically, the president projected a sustained period of growth, attributing it to reforms that have ended years of macroeconomic stagnation. He highlighted the achievement of a fiscal surplus, the reduction of inflation, the removal of currency controls, and the rebuilding of Argentina's credibility through timely debt payments.

A key legislative priority for the government, Milei stated, is the reform of the Central Bank's charter. The goal is to provide the institution with technical safeguards and explicitly prohibit monetary emission for fiscal assistance. He emphasized that merely cleaning up the Central Bank's balance sheet is insufficient if future populist governments could revert to inflationary financing, stressing the need to legally enshrine the bank's mandate to preserve currency value and prohibit financing the Treasury.