The “Unidad Piqueteira”, alongside other leftwing, opposition and human rights organizations, will take to the streets against Javier Milei this Wednesday (20), a month and a day after the election. In addition, the Argentine president is expected to announce on national television this Wednesday a plan to deregulate the economy, a package of 200 pages and 600 articles, say Argentine journalists yes, Argentina is the realm of crazy state interventions.
No one in “public opinion” seems to be particularly concerned about the demonstrations planned for this Wednesday, not even on the left. In the discussion rooms of this old public opinion (newspapers, magazines, televisions and the like) there is discussion about how long the voters' “honeymoon” with Milei will last (the clichés are international).
Of the measures already announced by the government, apart from the price increases that are also caused by the mega devaluation of the peso, almost none are yet effective in everyday life. For example, fuel prices rose by more than 60% in ten days.
The spending cuts promised a week ago will harm citizens, not least because it will initially make energy and transport more expensive and reduce civil servants' salaries, pensions and social benefits. However, it is not yet known how this plan will be put into action. In other words, part of it is already known: the government will allow inflation to erode the value of public spending, including salaries and benefits. A passiveaggressive budget adjustment, so to speak.
Milei was elected on the nonsense that the adjustment would take place behind the backs of the political “caste” and he did not mention the “corporate caste” (which receives subsidies and tax exemptions, benefits. Where have we seen that?) . But his zerodeficit plan will, as usual, tear the skin of the polity.
This Wednesday there could be even more reason to be upset.
The package must include some form of labor reform, changes to public services and privatization plans, as well as the concession of services and construction to the private sector. Many more “interim measures” (DNU, Necessity and Urgency Decree) will be issued, which can be constitutionally challenged (where have we seen this?).
There are also discussions about how to restore income tax to many people the previous administration cut income tax in an apparent campaign tactic, with the support of Congressman Milei. The IR money will be shared with the provinces (states) who say they are in trouble, cannot pay salaries, 13. and are already threatening to issue quasicurrencies and vouchers, as they did after the 2001 crisis have.
The “Piqueteros” are leftwing movements that have been protesting with road closures since the late 1990s. They are the least discouraged opposition. Kirchnerist Peronism, which helped ruin the country and suffered electoral defeat, is disorganized and demoralized, as are its trade unionists, who led a ruinous Peleguist Peronist government for four years. Furthermore, the Peronists do not want to give the impression that they are sabotaging the Milei government. At least not now, when, according to polls, the president has a good or very good image between 48 and 58% (in the second round, Milei had more than 55% of the vote; in the first, 30%). ).
Milei's government says it will reduce repression against “piqueteros” who block roads and also cut social benefits for those looted in the action. For the left, it could be even worse: that the protest is small.
Then there is Christmas, New Year and King's Day. And summer social lethargy. In March, after inflation of around 100%, among other dramas, accumulated under the new government, it is important to know whether Milei's political honey began to spill.