Milei's chainsaw health reforms in Argentina: the libertarian turn in public health

In November, 2023, Argentina elected as President Javier Milei, a libertarian economist and self-described anarchocapitalist, marking a dramatic political shift. Milei won support from over half the population—particularly young, low-income, and marginalised voters—who expressed frustration with economic decline and limited opportunities for individual social progress. Campaigning on the message that “there is no more money”, he pledged sweeping public budget cuts while framing the state as an obstacle and distributive justice as harmful. In his 2025 Davos speech, Milei condemned wokeism as destructive, echoing rhetoric from the administration of US President Donald Trump.