Argentina's government has called emergency sessions of parliament starting next week to address a package of controversial reforms by President Javier Milei, who has ordered sweeping deregulation of the economy.
Milei himself called late Friday for Congress to open an extraordinary session from December 26 to January 31 next year, after unions, tenant groups and left-wing organizations protested for a week against the reforms contained in a presidential decree, which must be approved by the government legislature.
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Argentina's government has called emergency sessions of parliament starting next week to address a package of controversial reforms by President Javier Milei, who has ordered sweeping deregulation of the economy.
Milei himself called late Friday for Congress to open an extraordinary session from December 26 to January 31 next year, after unions, tenant groups and left-wing organizations protested for a week against the reforms contained in a presidential decree, which must be approved by the government legislature.
At the center is libertarian Milei's mega-decree, which changes or repeals more than 350 economic regulations in a country that has become accustomed to heavy government intervention in the market.
Among the reforms, the text provides for the repeal of the Rent Act, which would eliminate the established price cap. It also eliminates some worker protections and laws that protect consumers from abusive price increases at a time when inflation exceeds 160 percent per year and the poverty line has exceeded 40 percent.
Milei's “chainsaw plan” to cut government spending – he waved a working chainsaw around on the campaign trail this year – sparked a series of anti-government street protests last week without any major incident.
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It also sparked calls from unions for demonstrations next Wednesday, where union leaders will file motions in court challenging Milei's decree as unconstitutional and seeking an injunction stopping its effect.
According to experts, the decree can be revoked if it is rejected by both houses of Congress. Otherwise, it will come into force on December 29th.
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