Milei dedicated his triumph to “kids with four paws” – his cloned mastiffs, which have become a media sensation, adding to his image as an unconventional candidate promising to disrupt the political status quo.
Milei, a 53-year-old economist, reportedly spent $50,000 to clone his beloved dog Conan, who passed away in 2017.
The cloning process resulted in at least four “grandchildren” named Murray, Milton, Robert, and Lucas, named after notable economists, including Milton Friedman.
Journalist Juan Luis Gonzalez, who wrote a book about Milei, also documented a fifth clone named Conan, a reference to the film “Conan the Barbarian” from 1982.
He is currently the favorite to win the general , with strong competition from Economy Minister Sergio Massa and mainstream conservative Patricia Bullrich.
Most pollsters anticipate a close three-way race, with a likely second-round run-off in November.
Milei’s deep affection for his dogs is well-known, as he claims to use a medium to communicate with them and has referred to them as the “best strategists in the world.”
“Do you know who were the only ones always by my side?” Milei said in an August interview with Argentine media, referring to a tough period in his life. “My sister and Conan.”
However, Milei’s attachment to his dogs has become a point of criticism, with opponents like Massa mocking him for treating his dogs as if they were children.
Milei responded to this criticism in a recent TV interview, stating, “They can say what they want. Everyone gives their opinion.”Cloned dogs are stealing the limelight in Argentina polls