Argentine peso plunges after rightist who admires Trump comes first in primary vote

By DANIEL POLITI
Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The Argentine peso plunged Monday after a 52-year-old anti-establishment candidate who admires former President Donald Trump came first in primary elections that will help determine the country’s next president. Javier Milei rocked Argentina’s political establishment Sunday by receiving the biggest share of primary votes for presidential candidates in the October general election to determine who leads a nation battered by economic woes. Milei wants to replace the peso with the dollar. He says that Argentina’s Central Bank should be abolished, and that he thinks climate change is a lie. He has characterized sex education as a ploy to destroy the family, has said that he believes the sale of human organs should be legal, and it should be easier for Argentines to own handguns.