BUENOS AIRES – Argentines are heading to the polls today, October 26, 2025, for a crucial legislative election that is being cast as a referendum on President Javier Milei’s radical economic agenda. The vote will determine whether the libertarian leader can secure the congressional power needed to implement his sweeping "shock therapy" reforms.

Voters across the country will elect half of the 257 members of the Chamber of Deputies and one-third of the 72 members of the Senate. The results are expected to redefine Argentina’s political landscape for the remainder of Milei's term.

Since his surprise presidential victory in 2023, President Milei has struggled to advance his platform of deep budget cuts and deregulation. His party, La Libertad Avanza (Liberty Advances), holds a significant minority in Congress, with just 37 deputies and six senators. This lack of legislative support has created major roadblocks, forcing the administration to govern largely by decree and negotiation.

The challenge was highlighted recently when the Senate successfully overturned a presidential veto on a disability benefits bill, delivering a significant blow to Milei's authority and underscoring his legislative vulnerability. Today’s election is his best chance to change that dynamic. A strong showing for La Libertad Avanza could provide the president with the necessary votes to pass key legislation, while a poor outcome could cement his lame-duck status and empower the opposition.

The lead-up to the national midterms has presented a mixed picture of public sentiment. In May, Milei’s party celebrated a major victory in the Buenos Aires city elections, where candidates he endorsed secured 30.1% of the vote. The result was seen as a strong validation of his "freedom model" in the nation’s capital.

However, the political winds shifted in September with the provincial elections in the crucial Buenos Aires province. There, the opposition Peronist party, led by incumbent Governor Axel Kicillof, secured a decisive win with 46.8% of the vote, compared to 33.8% for Milei’s candidate. That loss for the president’s party came amid growing public discontent over economic instability and a bribery scandal, signaling the resilience of the Peronist opposition.

This year's election also marks a significant change in the voting process. It is the first national election to use a unified paper ballot system. Furthermore, the often-contentious Open, Mandatory, and Simultaneous Primaries (PASO) were suspended, streamlining the electoral cycle.

As polls close and results begin to trickle in, all eyes will be on whether Argentines have granted President Milei the mandate he seeks to reshape the nation's economy or have instead bolstered an opposition determined to block his path.