1 of 1 Javier Milei during the inauguration ceremony on December 10, 2023 Photo: Portal/Agustin Marcarian Javier Milei during the inauguration ceremony on December 10, 2023 Photo: Portal/Agustin Marcarian
The government of Javier Milei, the new president of Argentina, put pressure on Congress this Tuesday (26) to try to pass the “decree” proposed last week. In addition to the text, parliamentarians will discuss a legislative package sponsored by the executive in extraordinary sessions in the next few days.
“Deputies and senators will have to decide whether to support what the people voted for, the change, this Argentina that we want for the good people and without the weight of the state, or whether they will continue to hinder this change [impedir o que] The majority of people want it,” Manuel Adorni, government spokesman, said in a statement posted on social media.
Among other things, the decree deregulates satellite internet service and private medicine, makes the labor market more flexible and repeals a number of national laws. The measures also include the transformation of several stateowned companies into jointstock companies, which will facilitate the privatization process of these institutions.
After a week of several protests against the reforms, the President called Parliament into extraordinary sessions between December 26 and January 31. Congress can confirm or reject the text in its entirety without having the opportunity to discuss the details of its content.
Milei also included proposals for reimbursement of payroll taxes, changes to electoral law and state reforms on the agenda for the extraordinary meetings.
“We appeal for goodwill and to do justice to the situation, given the urgency in which all Argentines find themselves,” Adorni said.
The organizations and unions called for a demonstration in court next Wednesday (27). The aim is to submit a request to the court to challenge the decree and an action to suspend all its effects.
The Federal Ministry of Public Power must respond to the challenges in a case that could potentially reach Argentina's Supreme Court.
Argentina is experiencing one of the worst economic crises in its recent history. 40% of the population lives in poverty and inflation is over 140% annually. Milei said the cut in public spending will be equivalent to 5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).