The guide, accompanied by a dozen visitors, walks through the old naval mechanics school, one of the secret detention and torture centers of the last Argentine dictatorship. His words have a different nuance these weeks. It is striking when he repeats one thought over and over again during the tour: “For those who deny it happened, here is the proof.” The climate that human rights organizations are broadcasting a few days before the presidential election is full of concern. Poll leader and primary winner Javier Milei and his team have made denial comments about state terrorism, which claimed 30,000 victims between 1976 and 1983. A possible triumph of the La Libertad Avanza formula, consummated by Victoria Villarruel, advocate of the idea that the dictatorship is only an “internal armed conflict,” threatens the continuity of the social consensus that built the country over four decades of democracy.
The weeks since his primary victory have been fertile ground for Milei to sow ideas. This Wednesday, at the end of his campaign, the candidate said that Argentina had gone through a “desert of 40 years”, the period in which the country was in democracy, to “transition to freedom”, probably from December. A line from the speech that went unnoticed among the unsuspecting fans, but served as a reference to the groups that sympathize with the military and justify the dictatorship. At the same time, it was a grenade for those who have committed themselves to the work of remembrance since the democratic return.
Carlos Pisoni, son of people who disappeared during the last dictatorship, acknowledges that it is a “very complicated” moment for the country. “We never thought we could have denying candidates,” he comments on the phone. “In 40 years we have fought a great battle to make memory, truth and justice state policy; “The fact that today we have a candidate like Villarruel is an affront to democracy.” The candidate for vice president, a defender of “life, liberty and property,” organized a tribute to “the other victims” just a month ago the political violence of the 1970s, an event strongly rejected by human rights organizations and described as a “provocation”.
Participants at a Mothers of Plaza de Mayo rally raise a blanket with the inscription “Love was stronger than hate” in Buenos Aires on October 18.
Argentina began to judge what happened during the dictatorship after the trial of the military juntas in 1985. Since then, 1,192 oppressors have been convicted of crimes against humanity. The measures implemented in commemoration, such as the transformation of the Navy Mechanics School into a museum of remembrance – recently declared a World Heritage Site – or the prosecution of military personnel and allied businessmen, have managed to survive governments of various stripes and turn the country into one Museum of Memory to transform into an international reference on these topics.
Horacio Pietragalla, the current Minister of Human Rights, recalls that the first crack appeared during the government of Mauricio Macri (2015-2019). At that time, the Argentine Supreme Court opened the door to the release of the genociders through access to a benefit called 2×1, which shortened their years in prison. Society mobilized massively to reject it and the initiative failed due to social pressure. Pietragalla sees this moment as an example of the “strong social consensus” that exists on the issue, although he admits that there is a sector “dependent on the denial” of the dictatorship. However, the majority of La Libertad Avanza voters are completely unaware of the candidates’ positions, he assures. “They are launching these provocations to win votes. Whenever there is an economic crisis, there are people who try to capitalize on the anger.” And he adds: “We have known Villarruel for 20 years, society doesn’t know her.”
To understand the support for Milei, we need to analyze the vote qualitatively, explains Paula Litvachky, executive director of the Center for Legal and Social Studies (Cels). The lawyer points out that these assessments indicate that there is “not necessarily ideological support” from Milei voters on this issue. But “even without adhering to these postulates, they are ready to vote for him.” This group joins another group that has existed since the 1970s and has always advocated denialism. “We never had absolute consensus,” he says.
Detail of a scarf during a rally of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. Mariana Eliano
The mothers of Plaza de Mayo marched in the famous square this week, as they have done every Thursday since 1977, to protest the disappearance of their children during the dictatorship. The atmosphere seemed politically tense. Irene Molinari, one of the club’s youngest representatives, walked around with her companions and then took the microphone. The right-wing extremist candidates “are not deniers,” he assured, “they are accomplices because they support genocidal murderers.” Those present applauded and told each other with more hope than conviction: “On Sunday we will win.” Whatever the result , “the fight continues in every scenario,” commented one of those closest to the mothers.
“It is a task for all Argentines to think about what is behind Milei,” said Molinari later in an interview with this newspaper, “we must talk to those who believe that he will bring us a change, because it is a catastrophic one Change.” for everyone.” . In the square on Thursday afternoon, all speakers insisted on the figure “it was 30,000”, a figure set as part of the consensus but questioned by defenders of the armed forces and now by Milei. Another of the mothers who took the microphone was Visitación Folgueiras de Loyola, who took part in the tour on her 99th birthday. With great effort, but with great poise, she stood up to thank the visitors. “How can I not be calm when I have companions who will always defend this precious flag?” she said, waving the white scarf she had worn on her head just minutes before, the symbol of a battle that more than… lasted 40 years.
Irene Molinari de Chueque (center), Mother of the Plaza, during the traditional Thursday round.Mariana Eliano