A Nature article says: Argentina appears to be on the cusp of a new era following yesterday’s second-round election, with Javier Milei, the libertarian candidate, securing the presidency with an impressive 56% of the votes. Since the establishment of democracy in 1983, Argentina has predominantly been governed by leaders associated with the Peronist movement, rooted in the populist ideals initiated by former president Juan Perón, emphasizing social justice and workers’ rights. However, in the recent election, the Peronist candidate, current economy minister Sergio Massa, faced defeat amid a backdrop of financial crisis.
The election outcome has cast a cloud of uncertainty over Argentina’s scientific community. Javier Milei and his party, La Libertad Avanza (Liberty Advances), have declared intentions to close down or potentially privatize the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), the country’s primary science agency. Additionally, they plan to eliminate the ministries of health, science, and environment.
CONICET, with its annual budget of approximately 80 billion pesos (US$400 million), plays a crucial role by providing funding for around 12,000 researchers at 300 institutions throughout Argentina. It stands as one of the most prominent scientific institutions in Latin America. Prior to the election, directors of CONICET’s 16 research centers issued a joint statement emphasizing that “canceling the State is not the path to a better country.” Many scientists in Argentina threw their support behind Sergio Massa or actively discouraged voting for Milei, organizing protests against his candidacy. For more details Read
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