Kicillof admits he’s ‘working to beat Milei’ in 2027 election

Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof all but launched his presidential candidacy on Monday, admitting that he is “working to beat” President Javier Milei in the 2027 election.

Speaking on Monday, two days after he drew a crowd of around 30,000 people to a speech in Avellaneda, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Kicillof stopped short of formally declaring his candidacy but did everything else but.

“We're working on this, we're working to beat Milei, but we're also working to have a much broader proposal for all sectors,” said the governor in an interview Monday.

Kicillof delivered a speech Saturday at the federal plenary meeting of his Movimiento Derecho al Futuro (MDF) party, which brought together activists, political leaders and representatives from different provinces nationwide. 

The event served as the national launch of the movement led by the governor and was dominated by discussions about building a political alternative for 2027.

Asked by Ari Lijalad of El Destape on Monday about the enthusiasm generated by the gathering, Kicillof argued there is public demand for an alternative to President Javier Milei’s government.

He said there was “enthusiasm,” “desire” and “energy” for the fight ahead. “There is an obligation to put an end to this nightmare next year,” the governor said.

“I think there is now a need, in addition to being an opposition, to be an option,” said Kicillof.

The governor addressed the debate over presidential candidates and electoral alliances for 2027. Rather than limiting the political project to party leaders, he called for a broader political force.

“Beyond the discussion that is taking shape around candidates for the electoral alliances, I believe we have to build a great political force that includes not only leaders and party representatives, but also different sectors that are being attacked by Milei’s policies and that need not only representation, but a project,” he said.

Kicillof also criticised the direction of Milei’s government, arguing that its policies were failing to respond adequately to changes taking place globally.

“What the Milei government is doing in the face of this change that is taking place is the worst thing that can be done,” he said.