Core Viewpoint - The Argentine government, led by President Javier Milei, is planning to intervene in the foreign exchange market to support the national currency, the peso, amid a political scandal that is shaking investor confidence and could impact the upcoming parliamentary elections [1][2]. Group 1: Government Actions and Economic Measures - The Milei administration has advocated for a free-market economy and has allowed the peso to float within a set range, but recent actions indicate a shift in policy to curb a sell-off in financial markets [1]. - The government has implemented several measures to combat peso depreciation, including liquidity restrictions on banks and offering interest rates as high as 76% to encourage investors to roll over maturing government debt [1]. - Despite these interventions, the peso continued to decline, and bond prices also fell, with the price of Argentine bonds maturing in 2035 dropping nearly 2 cents to 61 cents per dollar, marking the lowest level since April [1]. Group 2: Investor Sentiment and Political Context - Investor confidence is fragile, with many viewing the upcoming election cycle as a referendum on Milei's performance during his first two years in office [2]. - The recent political scandal involving Milei's sister has further eroded public support, and local elections in Buenos Aires province are seen as a critical indicator for the national elections scheduled for October 26 [3][2]. - The local elections have raised concerns about Milei's potential setbacks, as candidates supported by his government performed poorly, finishing fourth in the recent Corrientes provincial elections [2]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Future Outlook - The Argentine Finance Minister, Pablo Quirno, announced that the finance ministry would enter the foreign exchange market to promote liquidity, but this did not prevent the peso from falling by 1.6% on the same day [5]. - There are doubts about the government's ability to increase international reserves before the maturity of dollar-denominated bonds in January, as the finance ministry currently holds $1.7 billion in foreign currency deposits, down nearly $300 million since August 11 [5]. - Market expectations suggest that the government's intervention measures may be temporary, aimed at stabilizing the financial market until after the mid-term elections [6].