Argentine President Javier Milei called on the opposition to sign the “May Pact,” a new founding document containing 10 state policies, while expressing his “conviction” amid criticism of possible governance problems during his administration.
In the inaugural speech During the regular sessions of the National Congress, the President invited the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires to sign this document on May 25, the national holiday, in the city of Córdoba (center). However, he explained that will invite local councilors to Casa Rosada (seat of government) “to sign a preliminary agreement and to sanction both the Basic Law (and the starting points for the freedom of Argentines) and a tax relief package for the provinces” and then “to work on a common project” and “Beginning a new era of glory” for Argentina.
In the background of this double proposal is the recent dispute between the president and provincial governors because of Budget adjustment and funding cuts which the state must send to the areas, which led local councilors to demand “dialogue” and “respect” in light of Milei’s frequent outbursts and disqualifying messages to them. “If you’re looking for conflict, you’re going to have conflict, because unlike some of you who are thinking about your next election, we’re only thinking about freedom,” the libertarian president said. Milei demanded that the rulers be able to do this despite the differences “Put the interests of the nation ahead of the interests of the election.”
For this reason, he called on governors and leaders of political forces to sign the “May Pact” to “leave behind the antinomies of the past,” with 10 government directives for Argentina to leave “the path of failure.”
inviolability of private property; “non-negotiable” budget balance; Reducing public spending by around 25% of gross domestic product (GDP); tax reform that reduces tax pressure; Reviewing the co-participation system (state-province) “and ending the current extortionate model” were the first points mentioned.
In addition, the commitment of provinces to promote the exploitation of natural resources; a “modern” labor reform; a sustainable pension reform; structural political reform that changes the current system; and opening up international trade so that Argentina “becomes a protagonist in the global market.”
Milei said that all parties were invited because, as he said, Neither he nor his party want to “play the mediocre game of politics”, but they came on the scene to “seriously change the country.” Given the potential governance problems often talked about when referring to the lack of “parliamentary power” of La Libertad Avanza (LLA, far right), Milei resisted his “condemnation.”
On the other hand, Milei also announced that his government The public news agency Télam is closed. Recalling some of the achievements of his executive branch in the 82 days of his administration since taking office on December 10, the libertarian highlighted what he described as the closure of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (Inadi). “Thought Police”which, he explained, “spent 2.8 billion pesos to entertain paid militants.”
“With this in mind, we will close the Télam agency,” the president said, without giving further details of the operation. He also referred to the “immorality”. “Spending money to buy the will of journalists.”“through official advertising in the media, which its executive has suspended for a year, “in a country where people are starving.” The Argentine public news agency Télam, founded in April 1945, had been at the forefront of the Libertarians since the election campaign, in which, as with the rest of the public media, several leading figures hinted at possible privatization or closure.
In his speech, the president denounced that populism has stolen much of the population’s income as he reviewed the “legacy” of the government of Peronist Alberto Fernández (2019-2023). “Populism has taken away 90% of our income to the point where a third of formal workers are poor,” the President said.