The share of Argentines with a positive view of Milei dropped 7 percentage points between August and September to 40 per cent, according to pollster Poliarquía, although overall approval of his government fell only two points, to 53 per cent.

Irma Casal, a 53-year-old in Buenos Aires, works three shifts as a garbage recycler, cardboard collector and bricklayer, but, like many Argentines at a time of rising poverty, she still struggles to make ends meet.