Francisco Jiménez, a 32-year-old delivery app rider in Buenos Aires, reports spending over eight hours daily on his job but still faces financial challenges. Due to increasing living costs, he and his family will soon move into his mother-in-law’s flat, as they can’t afford their current rent. Jiménez noted that his family’s expenses rise as his three children grow.
Amid these difficulties, Jiménez participated in the recent midterm elections, where he voted for President Javier Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), despite a troubled economy marked by high inflation and corruption allegations against the administration. Interestingly, Milei’s party won decisively, surprising even the president.
Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has enacted strict austerity measures aimed at achieving a zero-deficit target, which included spending cuts and substantial devaluation of the national currency, the peso. Although inflation reportedly decreased from over 211% to 32% by September 2025, the overall purchasing power has diminished, with rising household debt leading to an increase in the poverty rate, which was recently reported to be 31.6%.
Local business owners like Nicolás Pedrosa, who also voted for Milei, shared concerns regarding the drastic economic changes and their impact on the middle class. A decline in consumer spending has forced Pedrosa to diversify his offerings, highlighting the challenges faced by many in the retail sector.
Milei has implemented policies such as lifting import restrictions, which has led to criticisms from domestic industries fearing competition. Reports indicate significant job losses, with an estimated 205,000 to 250,000 formal jobs disappearing in recent months, exacerbating economic strain and increasing the number of informal workers.
As the LLA seeks to navigate legislative reform, it remains below the required majority to advance key proposals. Jiménez expressed understanding for the president’s challenges, recognizing the long-standing issues affecting the economy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/01/argentinians-struggling-milei-chainsaw-austerity