According to a survey by CB Consultora Opinión Pública, Milei rose to first place in the ranking in the south of the continent
Among the criteria evaluated by the consulting firm were perception of management, leadership capacity, institutional credibility, and response to crises. Milei outperformed in all these areas figures such as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Gabriel Boric (Chile), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), Gustavo Petro (Colombia), and Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela), the last two with the lowest levels in the ranking.
The podium was completed by Ecuadorian Daniel Noboa in second place, and Uruguayan Yamandú Orsi in third. Noboa earned a good image despite his short term, while Orsi—possible successor of Frente Amplio—capitalizes on Uruguay's institutional stability. Lula ranked fourth, with moderate approval, followed by Boric, who barely reached 32% positive image. From there, the decline was notable: Petro, Peña, Arce, Boluarte, and finally Maduro, who remains mired in popular discredit.
Milei's rise was interpreted by analysts as a sign of social exhaustion with old politics and a validation of his liberal reform model. His impact is no longer limited to Argentina: "The Milei effect transcends borders", the study's authors highlight, identifying him as the only South American leader who managed to capitalize on the political moment and turn it into citizen support.
Contrary to the declining rhetoric of traditional populisms and left-wing governments, the Argentine case today stands out as a model that arouses interest, sympathy, and approval. President Milei—who took office in December 2023 amid a deep crisis—has become a continental reference for a new, modern, liberal, and unapologetic right.
In a regional context marked by political instability, stagnant economies, and growing social disapproval toward traditional governments, the man who rose forcefully and broke all the molds: Javier Milei. The Argentine president was ranked as the South American leader with the highest positive image, according to a report released by CB Consultora Opinión Pública, which surveyed citizen perception in different countries across the continent.
The survey, regional in scope and methodologically robust—with representative samples of people over 16 years old, weighted by gender, age, and geographic origin—placed Milei at the top of the ranking. With a positive image exceeding 54%, he not only leads the index, but was also the only president who registered a significant increase in approval, with a growth of 5.4 percentage points compared to the previous measurement.
The report indicates that the consolidation of support for Milei comes after the first months of his administration, marked by a structural reform agenda, high media exposure, and a direct leadership style that challenges the status quo. In contrast to his regional counterparts, whose images remained stable or declined, the Milei phenomenon represents what the study's authors defined as a "shift in South American public opinion."
