In 2023, Argentinians voted for the nuclear option that had emerged in the face of dissatisfaction with traditional political forces. Javier Milei's message of cuts and restructuring resonated with the citizens of the South American country which has now been bloated and crisis prone for decades. So has this minority government managed to effect profound changes in Argentinian politics?
Javier Milei's government is unique not only because of his shall we say idiosyncratic discourse, but also because of how he maintains support without a real extension of party power. Crucially, his group, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), is an electoral coalition. Although this coalition won the presidency, it did not win a single governorship and obtained less than 10% of the seats in the Senate and 15% in the Chamber of Deputies. Moreover, it was not until September of this year that La Libertad Avanza was formally consolidated as a party. The Argentine President has, thus far, overcome this situation through: the fragmentation between and within groups in Congress, the use of Decrees of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) and presidential vetoes. These tools, notwithstanding their long precedents, can put the division of powers at risk and weaken democracy when overused.
His explosive and volatile style of governing could rival that of the former and future President of the United States, Donald Trump, a figure that Javier Milei admires to the point of fanaticism, much like Trumpists themselves. The Argentine President has also brought his fractious methods to the international stage, creating tensions in his relations with the leaders of Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Spain, to name a few. His ideological rants are unparalleled, and not in a good way.
The self-proclaimed libertarian has been in power for a year, and his drastic measures have certainly made their mark. Indeed he could be well within his rights to declare his first solar orbit as President a success, inflation having fallen to 2.7% and the dollar exchange rate having stabilised. The economic hardships inflicted are most often brushed aside with references to necessary sacrifices for the greater good and future generations. This simplistic reasoning overlooks the catastrophic hurt his social cuts have wreaked. Moreover, the recession triggered by Milei's measures has led to a steep economic decline. Adding to this, Milei's libertarian economy exacerbated poverty in Argentina, making it rise to its highest level in 20 years. The National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec) reports that 7 out of 10 Argentine children are poor. More than half of the population cannot cover their basic needs. Having inflicted such suffering, Milei’s government blames the deterioration on the policies of previous leftist administrations, a typical avoidance of responsibility.
Many decisions made by the current government have jeopardised its functioning and the stability of Argentine society all in all. These actions include the merger of the Ministries of Education, Labor, Social Development, and Culture, as well as, more recently, lowering the legal age for carrying weapons from 21 to 18. Without a doubt, the next three years of Milei's term are likely to bring more dangerous gambles.
Argentina still has a long way to go in adapting to the policies of this cavalier government. Legislators and citizens alike still hold the upper hand, given the fragility of the government due to the lack of legislative majorities, in determining how much room Milei will have for the litany of dramatic measures he may deign to inflict on Argentina.
Image: Flickr/Vox España
Image changes made: image cropped at bottom and left side.
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