This Thursday, Argentine President Javier Milei had an interesting moment by unexpectedly bursting into the A24 channel during a program hosted by Antonio Laje, where the renowned Spanish economist Jesús Huerta de Soto, a pillar of the Austrian School, was being interviewed.
The meeting, full of symbolism, united two emblematic figures of libertarian thought, consolidating Milei's leadership as a global phenomenon of the ideas of freedom.
Huerta de Soto, Professor of Political Economy at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, is a world authority on the Austrian School, a movement that advocates for the free market, private property, and minimal state intervention. Author of works like Money, Bank Credit, and Economic Cycles, Huerta de Soto defends anarcho-capitalism, an ideology that considers the State a source of coercion that hinders individual freedom and social self-regulation.
El abrazo entre Javier Milei y Jesús Huerta de Soto.
During the interview, he expressed his enthusiasm for Argentina's direction, declaring: "I am a very happy person, perhaps in Argentina they don't realize it, but we are experiencing a worldwide explosion of the ideas of freedom, and the main protagonist is President Javier Milei." These words underscored Milei's impact beyond Argentine borders, presenting him as a leader who revitalized the ideas of freedom worldwide.
The relationship between Huerta de Soto and Milei goes beyond the academic. Milei, an economist by training and a fervent follower of the Austrian School, cited Huerta de Soto as one of his main influences, along with Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek.
This mutual admiration was evident in the warm embrace they shared in the studio, where Milei, accompanied by spokesperson Manuel Adorni and deputy José Luis Espert, joked: "You surprised me, now I surprise you."
The ideological connection between them was reflected in the discussion on anarcho-capitalism, with Huerta de Soto criticizing the State as a violent entity and Milei defending his "popular adjustment," which destroyed inflation and achieved a great economic recovery, along with a huge drop in the poverty rate, according to data mentioned in the program.
Profesor Jesús Huerta de Soto
As Huerta de Soto stated, the "Milei phenomenon" transcends Argentina, becoming a symbol for libertarian movements worldwide. Since his inauguration in December 2023, Milei has been in the international spotlight for his anti-State libertarian discourse, his massive economic deregulation —with 2,000 reforms implemented— and his rejection of traditional political consensus.
In countries like the United States, Spain, and Brazil, conservative and libertarian figures, and even presidents like Donald Trump, praised his disruptive approach and ideals, while at the same time Milei received awards and distinctions from numerous institutes worldwide. This recognition from Huerta de Soto symbolizes the union between libertarian theory and its practical application in Argentina under Milei's Government.
The meeting with Huerta de Soto in the interview not only celebrated this convergence of ideas but also positioned Argentina as a global laboratory of successful libertarian policies, with Milei as its main standard-bearer.
