Milei’s Approval Rating Hits New Low as Argentina Unemployment Rises

Javier Milei, Argentina's president, speaks during an opening session at the National Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Emboldened by a string of legislative victories, Milei dedicated Argentina's annual state of the nation address to hurling insults at his opponents in a return to his boisterous persona on the campaign trail. Photographer: Anita Pouchard Serra/Bloomberg Photo by Anita Pouchard Serra /BloombergArticle content(Bloomberg) — President Javier Milei’s approval rating fell in March to the lowest level since he took office as corruption allegations ensnared his government, unemployment climbed and Argentines soured on his trade deal with the Trump administration. Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentMilei’s approval rating fell to 36.4%, a five-point drop from February, while disapproval climbed 6 percentage points to nearly 62%, according to LatAm Pulse, a survey conducted by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News. The libertarian also fell behind one of his political rivals in public image after holding the top spot for most of his first two years in office. Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentMilei’s dip came in concert with falling popularity for both conservative and leftist peers across the region. Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum both saw their approvals dip. Chile’s new President Jose Antonio Kast is also facing backlash from voters over his decision to hike fuel prices.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentIn Argentina, the economic turnaround on Milei’s watch has become uneven, as energy and mining industries thrive, while construction and manufacturing show signs of recession. Monthly inflation, which Milei vowed to thwart below 1% this year, is closer to 3% and hasn’t cooled since last June. It’s still a significant improvement from the crisis Milei inherited but the recovery has lost momentum. Article contentUnemployment climbed to 7.5% at the end of last year, the highest fourth-quarter since the Covid-19 pandemic. Nearly three-quarters of survey respondents described the labor market as “bad,” while 65% described the economy that way. Corruption topped Argentines’ concerns, followed by unemployment and inflation.Article contentMilei’s loyalty to US President Donald Trump solidified into a trade agreement in February, but Argentines’ views on the deal have shifted. In March, only 41% of Argentines supported the deal, down from nearly 60% of respondents in a January 2025 poll who saw the accord as “a good idea” when it was still under negotiation at the time. Argentines expect the pact will most likely translate into factories and small businesses closing, according to AtlasIntel. Article contentArticle contentA cryptocurrency scandal from February 2025 resurfaced in recent weeks as new details emerged about Milei’s alleged involvement.

Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni, who gained prominence for deriding corruption in past administrations, also came under fire two weeks ago after his wife flew on the presidential plane with Milei’s delegation to New York and questions arose about how he paid for a private jet to Uruguay for a family vacation. Article contentBuenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof, a potential presidential candidate next year for the Peronist opposition party, narrowly edged Milei for the first time in March with a positive image of 38% versus Milei’s 37%. Kicillof’s party won a provincial vote last September that sparked a market selloff, which ultimately spurred a $20 billion currency swap line for Argentina from the Trump administration. Milei’s party came back in October, winning the national midterm race, including in Buenos Aires province. Article contentAtlasIntel surveyed 5,037 people in Argentina between March 20-24. The online poll has a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of plus or minus one percentage point.Article contentTrending Meet the Canadian e-bike maker who is redefining the factory floor Electric Vehicles LNG Canada signs key pipeline agreement required for phase two expansion Energy Canada’s economic performance has been lagging the U.S. for years, and Statistics Canada delves into why Economy Why market bets for interest rate hikes in Canada are so high Economy Wealthsimple receives regulatory approval to offer prediction markets to investors Fintech Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Meet the Canadian e-bike maker who is redefining the factory floor Electric Vehicles LNG Canada signs key pipeline agreement required for phase two expansion Energy Canada’s economic performance has been lagging the U.S. for years, and Statistics Canada delves into why Economy Why market bets for interest rate hikes in Canada are so high Economy Wealthsimple receives regulatory approval to offer prediction markets to investors Fintech