People convinced new president is Bernard Manning as comedian trends on Twitter
Argentinian voters have elected a new president and, while he has proved himself to be an eccentric character in his own right, many have taken to social media with the observation that he looks like an icon of 70s British TV.
Javier Milei received more than 55 per cent of the votes to win the presidency on Sunday, the highest percentage a presidential candidate in Argentina has received since the country returned to democracy in 1983. The 53-year-old former rocker has shared some pretty out-there views while campaigning, including that sex education is a Marxist plot to destroy the family, that people should be able to sell their own vital organs and that climate science is false.
But users have taken to social media to share their own observations on Argentina's new leader, and have drawn a comedic comparison. Twitter users are convinced that Milei is a young Bernard Manning reincarnated.
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The British comedian and nightclub owner was a controversial figure who was banned from venues around the country after his jokes had him accused of sexism and racism. The Manchester-born comedian built a cult following after his 1971 break on the Granada TV series The Comedians but fell out of favour in the 1980s when his treatment of ethnicity, women and religion became seen as unacceptable by many.
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Comedian Bernard Manning performing on stage, circa 1978 (TV Times via Getty Images)Manning died at the age of 76 in June 2007, having spent two weeks in hospital for a kidney problem. But, people on Twitter, now X, are convinced he has been reincarnated in the form of Argentina's new president Javier Milei.
People were quick to take to Twitter with pictures of Milei saying; "Apparently, Bernard Manning has won the Argentinian election". Another asked; "Is that 1970s Bernard Manning whose won in Argentina?"
One user joked: "Things you didn't see coming No. 63442 - Bernard Manning is elected president of Argentina". Others drew similarities between the pair based not just on looks, but their eccentric natures.
Manning fell out of favour in the 1980s as people believed his comedy to be too controversial (EMPICS Sport/PA Photos)One person even took a subtle swipe at other world leaders, saying: "interesting to see how electing a cross between Bernard Manning and Alvin Stardust works out for Argentina. Appointing national leaders because they have funny hair isn't always the best move..."
Milei, a right-win populist, grabbed attention on the campaign trail with his outlandish acts, including brandishing a revving chainsaw and making bold comments that included calling Pope Francis a "filthy leftist" and hailing American gangster Al Capone as a "hero". The self-identified libertarian has campaigned on switching Argentina's currency from the peso to the US dollar, as well as plans to get rid of the central bank and slash publish spending.
He has spoken in favour of loosening the country's labour laws, promoting a vision of a drastically smaller government to boost economic growth. That plan involves eliminating half of the government ministries in Argentina, including health and education.
People are convinced Milei is a young Manning reincarnated (AFP via Getty Images)Reducing the state’s size dovetails with his calls for the “political caste” to be purged from Argentina’s government, much as former US President Donald Trump spoke of “draining the swamp” in reference to the entrenched establishment. Milei has often drawn comparisons to Trump, a leader he openly admires.
In the same vein as Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again,” Milei has said he will return the country to an unspecified period of greatness. “Argentina is going to reclaim the place in the world that it should never have lost,” Milei said at his victory rally Sunday. His followers have embraced the comparison, and often wear hats bearing the words “Make Argentina Great Again.”
During his repeated television appearances, Milei didn’t just talk about economics and politics. He also delved into his personal life and once presented himself as an expert in tantric sex, openly discussing how he had repeatedly participated in group sex and providing tips.
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