/ world today news/ Javier Millay, who took office as president of Argentina just two weeks ago, launched a bunch of reforms. The opposition is outraged, and the population is perplexed. But the disaffected are threatened with the removal of social benefits. Read about the new round of the crisis in this Latin American country and its prospects.
“Shock Therapy”
A self-described libertarian and anarcho-capitalist, Millay built his election campaign on populist statements such as promises to close Argentina’s central bank and convert the country entirely to dollars. He introduced himself with a chainsaw, demonstrating the seriousness of his intentions. Observers said that the shock politician, coming to power, will come to his senses and move from biting slogans to pragmatic work. Nothing of the kind. At the end of the year, Millais issued an emergency economic, health and social decree that prescribed more than 300 economic deregulatory measures.
The decree removes key rules on residential rents, export customs agreements, land ownership, food retailing and more. The staff of air carriers, healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical and tourism enterprises are being cut, and severance benefits are being reduced. State-owned companies, including the oil and gas company IPF, can now be privatized.
“Today we are taking the first step to end Argentina’s pattern of decline,” Millay said in a televised address. “I signed an emergency decree to dismantle the repressive institutional and legal system that has destroyed our country.” According to him, there is no alternative to “shock therapy”. He considers the participation of the state in the economy to be one of the main factors for the impoverishment of the population. “The goal is to restore the country, to return freedom and autonomy to the people. It is necessary to transform a huge number of rules that blocked economic growth,” the president stressed.
The new government devalued the national currency, the peso, by more than 50%. Fuel and transport subsidies have been reduced since January. Economy and Labor Secretary Luis Caputo announced the layoff of recently appointed state employees. At the same time, the authorities also have a “carrot” – expanding benefits and increasing social benefits, primarily for children. But with major caveats.
„The country is not for sale!
After the head of state’s speech, Buenos Aires residents banged pots and pans on their balconies in protest. A rally was held in the Congress building. The main slogan was “Our country is not for sale!” In the center of the capital, representatives of the left movements gathered thousands of people with the demand “to stop Miley”.
The president chose the most inopportune moment to express his reform agenda. Since 2002, on December 19 and 20, rallies have been held in the Argentine capital in memory of the victims of the actions of 2001. The new Minister of Human Capital, Sandra Petoveglio, warned in advance: those who block streets and take part in demonstrations will lose their social benefits .
Clashes with police ensued and at least two protesters were arrested. The organizers of the rally called on the unions to declare a general strike.
Argentine human rights groups signed a petition to the United Nations and the Organization of American States (headquartered in Washington), asking them to condemn the actions of the authorities. The document notes that the bans and threats are “incompatible with the rights to freedom of assembly and association, freedom of expression and social protest.”
„No need, no urgency”
The decree of the head of state on reforms has not yet been passed through the parliament. But it is essentially a formality.
Millay’s party is poorly represented in Congress: 39 of 257 seats in the lower house, seven of 72 in the Senate. However, this will be enough to prevent MPs from blocking the decree.
At one time, Donald Trump chose this tactic – to rule the country by decrees, bypassing parliament. However, not everything can be solved this way. Sooner or later I will have to interact with the legislators.
Under Argentina’s constitution, presidents have the power to issue “decrees of urgency and necessity” on most matters – except tax, criminal and electoral. “At the moment there is no need or urgency,” said German Martinez, leader of the Union for the Homeland faction. “Don’t be afraid of democratic debate,” he adds.
Millay is still not listening to the opposition. But given the ongoing calls for a general strike, it is possible that the Argentine street will force him to listen.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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