Milei’s Popularity Crashes in Argentina as Economic Hardship Intensifies
Reflecto News | Americas | Politics & Economy
BUENOS AIRES — President Javier Milei’s approval rating has fallen sharply in Argentina, with a recent survey showing 60.6% disapproval against just 33.1% approval. The steep decline comes as millions of Argentines struggle with diminished purchasing power, mounting debt, and salaries that run out before month’s end.
The April 2026 polling from the Zentrix consultancy—based on consultations with some 1,600 people across the country from April 11 to 18, with a margin of error of ±2.48%—marks a significant reversal for the libertarian leader, who rode a wave of anti-establishment anger to the presidency in late 2023.
📉 The Numbers: How Far Milei Has Fallen
Milei’s approval has dropped steadily over the past three months:
- February 2026: 44.4% approval
- March 2026: 38.5% approval
- April 2026: 33.1% approval
The decline aligns with findings from other major polling firms. A separate survey by CB Global Data showed Milei’s positive image falling to 36.2% in April, down more than six percentage points from March, placing him 14th out of 18 Latin American presidents. Opina Argentina recorded even steeper numbers, with 63% disapproval and only 35% approval.
The president’s domestic standing has also slipped dramatically. He now places fifth in the national ranking of political figures—behind opposition leaders Axel Kicillof and Myriam Bregman (both at 44% positive) and former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (39%).
💸 The Economic Reality: Why Argentines Are Turning Away
Behind the polling numbers lies a deepening economic crisis that affects daily life for millions.
Salaries That Don’t Last
A stark measure of the hardship: more than half of Argentines run out of money before the 20th of each month. According to Zentrix polling, 83.9% of respondents say their salaries do not keep up with rising prices—a devastating assessment of purchasing power in a country already accustomed to high inflation.
The consultancy describes a four-stage cycle of decline affecting households across the country:
- Falling purchasing power – Wages consistently lag behind prices
- Difficulty sustaining monthly consumption – Basic needs become harder to meet
- Reliance on debt – Households borrow just to cover food, rent, and utilities
- Growing inability to pay – Nearly 90% of those in debt are already struggling to repay what they owe
Debt for Survival
Some 56.4% of households have taken on debt over the past six months—not for major purchases or investments, but to cover basic expenses such as food, rent, and utilities. Of those, nearly nine out of ten are already falling behind on payments.
A growing share of the population can no longer make ends meet at all. A University of San Andrés survey found that 37% of Argentines identify low wages as their primary concern, surpassing inflation as the main source of anxiety for the first time in years. Another 36% point directly to lack of employment, reflecting a shift in public priorities from price levels to income stability.
The spending power of the average Argentine has collapsed. Over 80% report reducing their spending, and most households say their salary only stretches to about the 20th of the month—leaving a ten‑day gap before the next pay cycle.
🧨 The Corruption Factor: ‘One of the Casta’
Perhaps most damaging to Milei’s brand is the erosion of his central campaign promise: that he was an “anti‑system” outsider who would clean up Argentina’s corrupt political class.
A striking 66.6% of respondents now say that Milei has become “one of the casta” —the very political elite he railed against. This represents not just a policy failure but a symbolic collapse of the libertarian leader’s carefully cultivated identity.
Corruption allegations have centered on Milei’s chief of staff, Manuel Adorni, who faces judicial investigations over luxury foreign travel, undeclared property purchases, and alleged illicit enrichment. Adorni’s negative image has reached 73.9% , the worst of any major political figure.
The perception of systemic corruption is now widespread. 60.2% of those surveyed believe the scandals reflect a general problem within the government, not isolated incidents. “Corruption appears as the country’s main challenge, even among those who voted for the ruling party in 2025, above unemployment, inflation, or wages,” Zentrix observed. “This shows that the problem has already penetrated the symbolic universe of Milei’s own supporters.”
📊 Presidential Approval in Comparative Context
Milei’s standing in Argentina mirrors his sharp decline in regional rankings. In February 2026, he was the eighth most popular president in Latin America. By April, he had dropped to 14th out of 18 leaders—falling into the bottom five of the region’s worst‑rated heads of state.
Rather than broadening his support, Milei has retreated to a smaller, more hardline base. Pollsters note that the president retains a “core” of loyal supporters, but“outside that core, the social verdict has become much more severe” . According to Opina Argentina, the approval rating for his administration has dropped 13 points since January, with the decline accelerating sharply in March and April.
🗳️ Electoral Implications: A Competitive Race Emerging
The political shift has direct consequences for Argentina’s electoral landscape. While Milei still leads in some voting intention polls, his advantage has shrunk dramatically.
A Rubikon Intel survey shows La Libertad Avanza (Milei’s party) at 29.4% in presidential voting intention, with the Peronist opposition close behind at 25.4%. The left—long a marginal force in Argentine national politics—has risen to 6.5%, reflecting a partial radicalization of the anti‑government vote.
Significantly, 17.7% of voters remain undecided and another 8.4% say they would not vote at all, leaving a large pool of discontented Argentines who could break decisively in any direction.
🔮 What’s Next for Milei
Milei has already announced his intention to seek re‑election in 2027. But the current trajectory suggests he will need a dramatic economic turnaround—or a reconfiguration of political alliances—to regain the momentum that carried him to the presidency.
For now, the evidence from multiple polls points in the same direction: Argentines are hurting economically, they increasingly view the president as part of the problem rather than the solution, and the political landscape is fragmenting in ways that could leave Milei without a clear path to re‑election unless conditions change.
Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Disapproval | 60.6% |
| Approval | 33.1% |
| Say salaries don’t keep up | 83.9% |
| Households in debt for basics | 56.4% |
| Say Milei is ‘one of the casta’ | 66.6% |
| Perceive systemic corruption | 60.2% |
| Rank among Latin American presidents | 14th of 18 (April 2026) |
| Presidential voting intention (LLA) | 29.4% |
Sources: Zentrix, Opina Argentina, CB Global Data, Rubikon Intel, University of San Andrés
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How far has Milei’s approval rating fallen?
From 44.4% in February to 33.1% in April—a drop of 11.3 points in just two months.
Q2. Why are Argentines turning against the president?
The primary drivers are economic hardship (salaries that don’t last the month, rising debt, loss of purchasing power) and corruption scandals involving senior officials, which have undermined Milei’s “anti‑casta” brand.
Q3. What percentage of households are going into debt just for basics?
Over 56%, and nearly 90% of those are already falling behind on their payments.
Q4. Are there any political leaders more popular than Milei currently?
Yes. Axel Kicillof (Peronist governor of Buenos Aires province) and Myriam Bregman (left‑wing FIT leader) both have higher positive image ratings than the president.
Q5. Does the president still plan to run for re‑election?
Yes. Milei announced on April 23 that he intends to compete for re‑election in 2027, despite the sharp drop in his approval numbers.
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