Argentina: Javier Milei announces to Parliament that he is ready “for conflict” to reform the country
In Argentina, Javier Milei gave his first annual speech to Congress on Friday March 1, the Argentinian equivalent of the State of the Union speech in the United States.
After once again attacking a “
political caste
” which he considers corrupt, and announcing that he would not back down from any obstacle, the Argentine president also proposed a new social contract to elected officials.
President Javier Milei addresses lawmakers during the opening legislative session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 1, 2024. © Natacha Pisarenko/AP
By: RFI with AFP
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The ultraliberal
Argentine
President Javier Milei said this March 1, in his first speech on the State of the Nation, that he was determined to push his reforms further.
“We are going to change the country for good (...) with or without the support of political leaders, with all the legal resources of the executive
,” declared
Javier Milei
in an offensive speech to parliamentarians.
Less than a month after the legislative wreck of the vast package
of ultraliberal reforms
that he had sent to Parliament, Javier Milei also issued a warning to deputies and senators.
“
We have come to devote our energy to building something new.
But I want to say to those who are here and to those who are watching that if they seek conflict, they will get it
,” said Javier Milei.
A new social contract
To the cheers of his supporters installed in the Congress boxes, the Argentine president announced the sending of an anti-caste bill to put an end to the privileges of politicians, before extending his hand – in his own way – to the opposition, reports our correspondent in Buenos Aires,
Théo Conscience
.
“
In the hope that I am wrong to distrust many of you, today I want to invite governors, ex-presidents and leaders of the main political parties to sign a new social contract to establish the ten principles of the new Argentine economic order
,” he declared.
This “
new social contract ” is based on ten eminently liberal principles: “
non-negotiable
” budgetary balance , “
inviolable
” private property
, public spending reduced to the “
historic
” level of 25% of GDP, in particular.
A “
May Pact
”, as he called it, which would be signed in Cordoba, symbolically on May 25, the anniversary of the 1810 revolution which led to the independence of Argentina in 1816.
Closure of the Argentine press agency Télam
After having outlined the resolutely ultraliberal contours of this new social contract, Javier Milei concluded by addressing the Argentines from whom he asks for
patience and confidence
, despite the impact of the first budgetary austerity measures which, in the short term, give a boost inflation and lead to a decline in economic activity.
“
There is still time before we can reap the fruits of the economic consolidation and reforms that we are implementing (...) but for the first time in history, we are attacking the problem by its cause.
For this I ask you for patience and trust
,” he said.
Argentina's ultraliberal President Javier Milei also announced the closure of the public press agency Télam, which he described as a "
propaganda agency
" of former Peronist president Cristina Kirchner.
“
We are going to close the Télam agency which has been used in recent decades as a Kirchnerist propaganda agency
,” Javier Milei said in a speech to Parliament, without providing details.
The Argentine president finished by launching his rallying cry: “
Long live freedom, damn it
.”
Also readArgentina: teachers in turn go on strike for the start of the school year
(
And with
AFP)
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