There is “no money” in the country’s coffers. And so there is “no alternative” to a series of “shock” reforms to fix public finances. With this message to the public, ultra-liberal Javier Milei took the oath of office in the Argentine Congress and became the new president of the South American state.
Milei, 53, received the presidential sash and cane from outgoing president Alberto Fernández. He will govern with a reduced executive team, mostly ministers from private companies and with no previous political experience. This is especially true for engineer Nicolás Posse, who became the head of the cabinet, economist Diana Mondino, who became foreign minister, media expert lawyer Mariano Cúneo Libarona and Sandra Pettovello, who was appointed Minister of Justice. Journalist and television producer who will be responsible for the Human Capital mega ministry, which will include Education, Labor and Social Development.
After entering Congress, Milei signed the honorary book and left his now-classic message: “Viva la libertad, carajo” (Long live freedom, damn it). He then addressed the citizens and announced the beginning of a period of reform full of blood and tears: for Argentina, “there is no alternative to regulation and there is no alternative but to shock.” Milei assured that “there is no money” in the country’s coffers and that the economic reform and stabilization program “will have an impact on the level of activity, inflation and poverty.” “We will experience a period of stagflation, but this will be the last bitter gulp that Argentina will have to swallow. We have inherited the worst legacy in history.”
There were some representatives of the international new right at the opening ceremony: from Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro to Vox leader Spaniard Santiago Abascal, who walked past Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban. Among those present was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has had to deal with Orban’s opposition to the new EU aid plan in recent days. Notable ones include Brazilian president Ignácio Lula da Silva.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
