Argentina's ultra-liberal President Javier Milei said in his first state of the nation address on Friday that he was determined to push forward his reforms “with or without” political support, warning a previously reluctant parliament that he was ready “for conflict.”
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“We will change the country forever (…) with or without the support of political leaders, with all legal means of the executive,” Mr Milei declared in an insulting speech to parliamentarians that began in early February.
“If you seek conflict, you will have conflict,” he told them, specifying: “If the path of confrontation is not the one we choose, we do not flee from it (…), then you will face another animal. ” from the ones you are used to.
But for almost three months, the head of state has reached out to the entire political class, influential provincial governors, party leaders and ex-presidents to forge a “new social contract” for the country based on ten eminently liberal principles: “non-negotiable” budget balancing , “inviolable” private property, reduction of public spending in particular to the “historic” level of 25% of GDP.
A “May Pact,” as he called it, to be symbolically signed in Cordoba (north) on May 25, the anniversary of the revolution of 1810 that led to Argentine independence in 1816.
At the social level, Javier Milei called on Argentines to be “patient and confident”, despite the impact of the first austerity measures (devaluation of more than 50%, price liberalization, end of many subsidies), which would cause problems in the short term, which would increase inflation and lead to a lead to a decline in economic activity.
“It will still take some time before we can reap the fruits of the economic consolidation and the reforms we are implementing (…), but for the first time in history we are attacking the problem at its source.” This is what I ask Ask for patience and trust,” he said.