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Presidency of Javier Milei 10 December 2023 –present | |
Javier Milei | |
Party | Libertarian Party La Libertad Avanza Republican Proposal Radical Civic Union |
Election | 2023 |
Seat | Casa Rosada Quinta de Olivos |
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Political career President of Argentina Elections Bibliography | ||
The presidency of Javier Milei began on 10 December 2023, when Javier Milei was sworn into office to a four-year term as the president of Argentina. Milei took office alongside vice president Victoria Villarruel following the La Libertad Avanza victory in the 2023 Argentine general election, with 55.65% of the vote in the second round against former economy minister Sergio Massa's 44.35%. Milei was elected with the highest total vote ever in Argentina and the highest percentage since 1973, amid the still ongoing 2018 Argentine monetary crisis.
On 11 April 2022, Milei announced his candidacy in an interview with Clarín . [1] Milei chose Victoria Villarruel, a National Deputy for the conservative Democratic Party, as his running mate. Villarruel, a veteran's advocate and signer of the Madrid Charter , has been accused of historical revisionism in regards to the Dirty War in the form of Argentine state terrorism denial. [2] [3]
Over the election, Milei steadily rose in the polls for his right-wing libertarian and right-wing populist views, as inflation increased above 100%. [4] During the August 2023 PASO primary, Milei emerged as the leading candidate with 29.86% of the vote. [5] Milei then advanced to the first round where he achieved second place on 22 October against Sergio Massa, the Minister of Economy who represented the incumbent Union for the Homeland coalition, with both advancing to a second round on 19 November. [6]
For the runoff, Milei was endorsed by former president Mauricio Macri and third-place candidate Patricia Bullrich, both members of the Juntos por el Cambio coalition. [7] [8] Milei remained technically tied in polls with Massa but emerged the victor on 19 November by 10 points in a rejection of the establishment Peronists. [9] His victory was likened to that of Donald Trump in the United States and Jair Bolsonaro's in Brazil. [10] [11]
Milei was inaugurated on 10 December 2023. He delivered a speech to the Argentine nation, [12] [13] warning of an economic shock, which has been described as shock therapy in economic terms, to be used as a means to fix Argentina's economic woes, [14] [15] [16] with inflation rising to 200 percent. [17] Following the inauguration, Milei saw his popularity increase in public opinion. After the first governmental and economic reforms taken by the president and his ministers, 53% of the Argentine people had a very good or good image of the new head of state according to a popularity poll made by Aresco on 15 December. [18]
Milei's cabinet took office on 10 December 2023. After the remaining officials from Alberto Fernández's presidency resigned, Milei began his nominations for those responsible for the existing portfolios. His cabinet mostly included ministers from La Libertad Avanza and Juntos por el Cambio. [19] [20] [21]
Upon taking office as president, Milei signed various decrees related to his cabinet members and ministries. He successively named Nicolás Posse as Cabinet Chief, Guillermo Francos as Minister of the Interior, Diana Mondino as Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Luis Petri as Minister of Defense, Luis Caputo as Minister of the Economy, Patricia Bullrich as Minister of Security and Mario Russo as Minister of Health. On 10 December, with his 8th decree (the first as president of Argentina), he modified the law and reduced the existing 19 government ministries to nine. [22] President Milei then nominated Mariano Cúneo Libarona as Minister of Justice and removed the 'Human Rights' part of the Ministry heading. As planned in his presidential campaign, he created the ministries of Infrastructure and Human Capital and appointed Guillermo Ferraro and Sandra Pettovello to lead them. [23] In order to name his sister Karina Milei as General Secretariat of the Presidency, he removed the impediment that former president Mauricio Macri signed that would have dictated to designate relatives in the state. [23]
Portfolio | Minister | Party | Coalition | Start | End | ||
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Cabinet Chief | Nicolás Posse | Independent | LLA | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Minister of the Interior | Guillermo Francos | Independent | LLA | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship | Diana Mondino | Independent | LLA | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Minister of Defense | Luis Petri | UCR | JxC | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Minister of the Economy | Luis Caputo | PRO | JxC | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Minister of Infrastructure | Guillermo Ferraro | Independent | LLA | 10 December 2023 (ministry established) | 9 February 2024 (ministry dissolved) | ||
Minister of Justice | Mariano Cúneo Libarona | Independent | 10 December 2023 | — | |||
Minister of Security | Patricia Bullrich | PRO | JxC | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Minister of Health | Mario Russo | Independent | 10 December 2023 | — | |||
Minister of Human Capital | Sandra Pettovello | UCEDE | LLA | 10 December 2023 (ministry established) | — |
Portfolio | Secretary | Party | Coalition | Start | End | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Secretariat | Karina Milei | LP | LLA | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Legal and Technical Secretariat | Javier Herrera Bravo | PRO | JxC | 10 December 2023 | — | ||
Communications and Press Secretariat | Belén Stettler | Independent | 10 December 2023 | — |
This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Needs events post-January.(March 2024) |
On 21 December 2023, Milei announced a large decree that become known in the media as "Megadecreto", a plan to modify a wide variety of economic regulations on the Argentinian economy. In a statement saying that he aims to lay "the foundations for the reconstruction of the Argentine economy and restore freedom and autonomy to individuals, removing the State from their shoulders", [24] more than 300 regulations were set aside, including significant rent and labor market regulations. [25] The decree is subject to approval by Congress, which was called for an extraordinary session to be held in the first months of 2024. [26]
The Milei government said it would not renew contracts for the more than 5000 public sector employees who were hired in 2023, while contracts for other government employees hired prior to 2023 will be reviewed. "The 2023 cutoff is apparently meant to target the practice of outgoing presidents padding the payrolls in their final year." [27] Annual inflation in Argentina surpassed 211% in 2023. [28]
On 10 January 2024, the IMF agreed to restart payouts to the Argentine treasury. Trade unions in Argentina have opposed Milei's policies, and the GCT called for a general strike on 24 January 2024. Milei has aimed to build up the central bank's foreign-exchange reserves by raising import and export taxes. [29]
On 10 December, economist and economics academic Diana Mondino was formally appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship. [30]
Milei's government decided to suspend diplomatic relations with Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. After his inauguration, Milei ordered that Argentina would not send ambassadors to any of those three countries, which Milei has previously labelled as dictatorships. [31]
In January 2024, Argentina offered military assistance to Ecuador in its conflict with organized crime. On 13 January, Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa accepted Argentina's (and the US's) military aid. [32]
On 25 January 2024, Colombia summoned its ambassador in Argentina to protest recent comments by Javier Milei, where Milei called Colombian president Gustavo Petro a "murderous communist who is sinking Colombia." [33] The Colombian ambassador labelled Milei as a "hypocrite" and condemned his comments. [34]
Milei's Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, confirmed that Argentina rejected its invitation to join the BRICS group of nations, and that the country had instead chosen to sign its membership request to OECD. [35]
On 29 December 2023, Milei ratified Argentina's withdrawal from entry in a letter addressed to BRICS leaders. [36]
On 12 December 2023, Argentina changed its position before the United Nations in regard to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Argentina, which had voted in favor of a ceasefire in the General Assembly Resolution ES-10/21, switched to abstaining in the Resolution ES-10/22. Analysts said the move showed a clearer support for Israel from Milei. [37]
On 14 January 2024, on the occasion of the hundredth day of war between Israel and Hamas, Milei expressed solidarity with the government and people of Israel, further adding that Argentina "endorses Israel's right to legitimate defense." [38]
On 5 February 2024, he commenced his inaugural state visit to Israel as president. There, Milei met with President of Israel Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, to whom he confirmed that embassy of Argentina's in Israel will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. [39]
Milei met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Buenos Aires on 10 December 2023. On 16 December, Milei's government announced through the Air Force, that it would donate two Russian-made Mil Mi-17 military helicopters to Ukraine. [40]
Republican Proposal is a right-wing political party in Argentina. It is usually referred to by its abbreviation, PRO. PRO was formed as an electoral alliance in 2005, but was transformed into a national party in 2010. It is the major component of the Juntos por el Cambio coalition, and its leader is former Argentine president Mauricio Macri.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, informally referred to as the Chancellery, is the Argentine government ministry dealing with the foreign relations of Argentina, Argentina's foreign policy, international development, international trade, diaspora and matters dealing with Mercosur and the Catholic Church.
Patricia Bullrich is an Argentine professor and politician who is serving as Minister of Security since 2023 under president Javier Milei, having previously held the office under president Mauricio Macri from 2015 to 2019. She is the chairwoman of Republican Proposal.
International relations between Argentina and Israel, have existed for decades. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 May 1949.
The National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism is a state agency of the Government of Argentina which is charged with receiving complaints and pursuing charges against citizens accused of acts of discrimination or hatred. Created in 1995 by Federal Law 24515, INADI is considered one of Argentina's National human rights institutions. On 22 February 2024, the government of Javier Milei announced that it will close INADI permanently.
Victoria Eugenia Villarruel is an Argentine politician, lawyer, writer, and activist who has served as vice president of Argentina since 2023. Described as a neoconservative politician, she is the founder of the civil association Centro de Estudios Legales sobre el Terrorismo y sus Víctimas, which she has chaired since its inception. She was a member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies from 2021 to 2023. Villarruel belongs to the La Libertad Avanza political coalition. She has been accused of Argentine state terrorism denial by several media outlets and human rights organisations. Villarruel denies such accusations, maintaining that she does not support the last Argentine military dictatorship.
Javier Gerardo Milei is an Argentine politician and economist who has served as the President of Argentina since December 2023. Milei has taught university courses and written on various aspects of economics and politics, and also hosted radio programs on the subject. Milei's views distinguish him in the Argentine political landscape and have garnered significant public attention and polarizing reactions.
Avanza Libertad, originally founded in 2019 as Frente Despertar, was an Argentine right-wing political coalition. Renamed in 2020, Avanza Libertad had legal status in the Buenos Aires Province. Ideologically, it is libertarian conservative, supportive of economic liberalism, ultraconservatism, and critical of both Kirchnerism and Juntos por el Cambio. Led by José Luis Espert, is a far-right coalition, with its being compared to Spain's Vox.
Ignacio Agustín "Nacho" Torres is an Argentine politician, currently serving as Governor of Chubut of Chubut Province since 2023. He previously served as a National Senator for Chubut. A member of Republican Proposal (PRO), Torres was elected in 2021 and sits in the Juntos por el Cambio parliamentary inter-bloc. He also served as a National Deputy from 2019 to 2021.
General elections were held in Argentina on 22 October 2023 to elect the president, vice president, members of the National Congress, and the governors of most provinces. As no presidential candidate won a majority in the first round, a runoff was held on 19 November, in which Javier Milei defeated Sergio Massa to become President of Argentina. Incumbent president Alberto Fernández and incumbent vice president and former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, despite both being eligible for a second, consecutive term, did not seek re-election.
La Libertad Avanza is an Argentine political coalition, which originated in Buenos Aires. It has been described as far right, with conservative and ultraconservative stances on social and cultural issues, and as right-wing libertarian, or ultra-liberal, on economic issues. Its first electoral participation was at the 2021 Argentine legislative election, obtaining the third place with 17% of the votes in the capital.
This article contains polls on voters' intentions regarding the 2023 Argentine general election, which will elect the country's president and vice president for the 2023–2027 period.
Media outlets have variously referred to Javier Milei, who was elected president of Argentina in a run-off on November 19, 2023, as far-right, right-wing libertarian, right-wing populist, and ultraconservative. Economically, they have described his positions as neoliberal and ultraliberal. Milei primarily identifies as a minarchist and liberal-libertarian, or classical liberal, while also aligning theoretically with anarcho-capitalism and paleolibertarianism.
The inauguration of Javier Milei as president of Argentina took place on Sunday, 10 December 2023, in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies in Buenos Aires. The inauguration marked the commencement of the four-year term of Milei as president and Victoria Villarruel as vice president. The inauguration marked the formal culmination of Milei's presidential transition that began after he won the 2023 Argentine presidential election held on 19 November 2023. Over twenty national leaders and representatives attended the ceremony.
In the 2023 Argentine presidential election, Javier Milei and Victoria Villarruel were respectively elected president and vice president of Argentina, defeating peronists Sergio Massa and Agustín Rossi 55.7% to 44.3% of the votes. It was the highest percentage of the vote since Argentina's transition to democracy. Milei and Villarruel took office on 10 December 2023. Their victory represented a significant political upheaval in Argentina, challenging the traditional political dynamics and signaling a new era in Argentine politics characterized by radical changes and uncertainties. Milei's campaign and eventual victory in particular were subject to intense scrutiny and analysis both nationally and internationally, as he was variously described as a far-right populist, right-wing libertarian, ultraconservative, and political outsider by major news outlets across the globe, and compared to both Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, among others.
Diana Elena Mondino is an Argentine libertarian economist, academic, and politician, currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Argentine Republic since 2023 under President Javier Milei. Mondino was previously the Director of Institutional Affairs at the University of CEMA.
Decree 70/2023, titled "Bases for the reconstruction of the Argentine economy" was signed on December 20, 2023, by the Argentine president Javier Milei. It is known in the media as the "Megadecreto" ("Mega-decree") or "decretazo" for its large scope.
Guillermo José Ferraro is an Argentine accountant, businessperson, and politician who was appointed Minister of Infrastructure on 10 December 2023 by President Javier Milei. On 27 January 2024, Milei stated that Ferraro would be presenting his resignation within the next few days. Ferraro's resignation was officially accepted by the government on 5 March 2024.
Sandra Viviana Pettovello is an Argentine journalist, consultant, and politician who has served as the Minister of Human Capital since 10 December 2023 under the appointment by President Javier Milei.