Argentina elects Far-Right Libertarian Javier Milei to the Presidency

[DEAD7]

Argentina's President-elect Milei replies to Musk's interest: 'We need to talk, Elon'

Elon Musk has shared a video in which Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei says equality should never come before freedom.

apnews.com

Argentina’s President-elect Milei replies to Musk’s interest: ‘We need to talk, Elon’​

President-elect Javier Milei waves during a joint session of Congress to officially declare him and his running mate winners of the presidential runoff election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Updated 12:20 PM EST, December 5, 2023

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social network X, shared a video Tuesday in which Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei says equality should never come before freedom, in a sign of how some notable conservatives are closely watching the incoming libertarian head of state.

“We need to talk, Elon,” Milei replied on X, formerly Twitter.

This is not the first time that Musk, the founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, has expressed support for Milei on social media. “Prosperity is about to come to Argentina,” Musk wrote when Milei won the election runoff on Nov. 19.

In the interview excerpt that Musk posted, Milei spoke against efforts to make societies more equal, saying it is far more important for people to be free.

“There’s a sublime phrase by Milton Friedman that I find to be outstanding, which is that when you prioritize equality over freedom, you end up achieving neither. But when you prioritize freedom over equality, you achieve many of both,” Milei said in the interview, referring to the American economist who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976.

In the same interview, Milei said that John Stuart Mill, a 19th-century British philosopher, economist and politician, argued that a society that emphasizes equality “ultimately becomes a society of looters and it sinks. That is the history of Argentina.”

The president-elect, who takes office on Sunday, also said income redistribution involves “using the repressive apparatus of the state to take from the successful” and distributing it arbitrarily “based on what the person in power wants.”

Milei has also caught the attention of former President Donald Trump and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who interviewed Milei before the election. Trump congratulated Milei on his victory in a phone call last month in which he told the president-elect he planned to visit Buenos Aires.

 

[bnew]

‘Prison or bullet’: new Argentina government promises harsh response to protest

President Javier Milei and his allies are preparing new security guidelines in anticipation of protests against currency devaluation

www.theguardian.com

‘Prison or bullet’: new Argentina government promises harsh response to protest​

President Javier Milei and his allies are preparing new security guidelines in anticipation of protests against currency devaluation
Uki Goñi in Buenos Aires

Sun 17 Dec 2023 06.00 EST

Human rights activists in Argentina have expressed consternation over new security guidelines to crack down on an anticipated wave of protests after the incoming government of libertarian president Javier Milei devalued the country’s currency by more than 50%.



Argentina’s new government devalues peso by more than 50%
Read more

Protesting individuals and organizations will be identified with “video, digital or manual means” – and then billed for the cost of sending security forces to police their demonstrations, said Milei’s security minister, Patricia Bullrich, as she announced the new protocol on Thursday.

“The state is not going to pay for the use of the security forces; organizations that have legal status will have to pay or individuals will have to bear the cost,” Bullrich said.

The aim of the new rules is to prevent a traditional form of protest known as piquete, in which demonstrators blockade city roads and highways for hours, days – and sometimes even weeks at a time.

“We have lived for many years under total and absolute disorder. It is time to put an end to this method, to the extortion suffered by citizens,” said Bullrich, who added that demonstrators could “protest on the pavement”.

Human rights groups and opposition legislators expressed concern at the rules which they said would essentially criminalise legitimate protests.

“Under the promise of order [the government] seeks to suppress public protest against the effects of official measures,” said the Centre of Legal Studies (CELS) in a statement. “The measures attack the right to protest and criminalize those who demonstrate and persecute social and political organizations.”

Leftist legislator and former presidential candidate Myriam Bregman said on X (formerly Twitter): “What Bullrich announced is absolutely unconstitutional … The right to protest is the first of all rights.”

José Luis Espert, a legislator with Milei’s party, Liberty Advances, replied with a three-word phrase: “Prison or bullet.”

The new protocol empowers police at train and bus stations to seize face masks, sticks or other elements they consider could be used in a demonstration. It also limits the participation of teenagers in social protests, ruling that parents of youngsters who should have been at school instead of protesting will be sanctioned.

“Bullrich announced that the government will punish the participation of girls, boys and adolescents in the protests. In this way, it criminalizes mothers and fathers who demand better conditions for their families and excludes those in charge of their care,” said the CELS in its statement.

Television newscaster Mario Massaccesi of the TN news channel recalled that Bullrich herself blockaded downtown streets in Buenos Aires when protesting against Covid lockdowns. “What authority does she have now to tell others they can’t protest?” asked the newscaster.

Protests are expected in response to the massive wage cuts and transport and tariff hikes announced as part of Milei’s “chainsaw” economic programme.

Inflation, which had peaked at about 160% during the last days of the previous government of Peronist Alberto Fernández, has skyrocketed into hyperinflation in the first week of Milei’s libertarian administration.

“Today inflation is travelling at a daily rate of 1%, that means it is travelling at a yearly rate of 3,678%,” Milei said on his Instagram feed on Friday.

 

[Payday23]

Argentine Economy Out of Control, as Milei Plans To Repress Social Protest

Argentine friends report to EIR that in the week since President Javier Milei has taken office, basic economic markers have gone off the charts. What the government refers to as “repressed inflation” is hyperinflation revealed in the 3,500% annual inflation rate, which in its view, justifies the...

eir.news

This guy is not going to make it long

 

[bnew]

Argentine Economy Out of Control, as Milei Plans To Repress Social Protest

Argentine friends report to EIR that in the week since President Javier Milei has taken office, basic economic markers have gone off the charts. What the government refers to as “repressed inflation” is hyperinflation revealed in the 3,500% annual inflation rate, which in its view, justifies the...

eir.news

This guy is not going to make it long

snippet:

Two days after Milei’s Dec. 10 inauguration, the price of meat had risen by 30%, and the total price hike for the week is approaching 100%. This has caused huge panic and shortages, as beef is one of the most important items in the Argentine diet. The price of fuel has increased between 35 and 65%. By Dec. 18 or 19, Milei will present another major package of austerity measures to Congress including higher taxes and a decree on the deregulation of the state. One Buenos Aires-based economist reported that there are no plans to adjust wages to address the higher inflation. Over January and February, subsidies for utilities and transportation will gradually be eliminated.

 

[ReasonableMatic]

Argentine Economy Out of Control, as Milei Plans To Repress Social Protest

Argentine friends report to EIR that in the week since President Javier Milei has taken office, basic economic markers have gone off the charts. What the government refers to as “repressed inflation” is hyperinflation revealed in the 3,500% annual inflation rate, which in its view, justifies the...

eir.news

This guy is not going to make it long

snippet:

Two days after Milei’s Dec. 10 inauguration, the price of meat had risen by 30%, and the total price hike for the week is approaching 100%. This has caused huge panic and shortages, as beef is one of the most important items in the Argentine diet. The price of fuel has increased between 35 and 65%. By Dec. 18 or 19, Milei will present another major package of austerity measures to Congress including higher taxes and a decree on the deregulation of the state. One Buenos Aires-based economist reported that there are no plans to adjust wages to address the higher inflation. Over January and February, subsidies for utilities and transportation will gradually be eliminated.

Good, fukk them Nazi DEVILS

 

[Professor Emeritus]

snippet:

Two days after Milei’s Dec. 10 inauguration, the price of meat had risen by 30%, and the total price hike for the week is approaching 100%. This has caused huge panic and shortages, as beef is one of the most important items in the Argentine diet. The price of fuel has increased between 35 and 65%. By Dec. 18 or 19, Milei will present another major package of austerity measures to Congress including higher taxes and a decree on the deregulation of the state. One Buenos Aires-based economist reported that there are no plans to adjust wages to address the higher inflation. Over January and February, subsidies for utilities and transportation will gradually be eliminated.

Imagine what TLR wannabes like Cac Mamba and Its Young! would be saying if he was a liberal.

 

[bnew]

Government says it will take away welfare from protesters who block streets

Argentina's government warns against street blockades on eve of major demonstration; Human Capital Minister Sandra Pettovello warns that those who participate and receive welfare support will have it taken away from them.

www.batimes.com.ar

ARGENTINA | YESTERDAY 17:54​

Government says it will take away welfare from protesters who block streets​

Argentina's government warns against street blockades on eve of major demonstration; Human Capital Minister Sandra Pettovello warns that those who participate and receive welfare support will have it taken away from them.

SANDRA PETTOVELLO. | NA

President Javier Milei’s government announced Monday that welfare support will be taken away from those who participate in street blockade protests.

In remarks delivered on the eve of the first big protest of Milei’s Presidency, Human Capital Minister Sandra Pettovello said in a broadcast that picketers who attempt to block roads would be stripped of government support.

"The only people who will not receive [welfare and aid] are those who go to the march and cut the street," warned the 55-year-old, who is leading a new government portfolio that encompasses the former ministries of Culture, Education, Labour and Social Development.

Argentina has a large number of social welfare plans. Some of these are paid directly into the beneficiary's bank account or via a food-stamp card. Others are received through payments from social welfare organisations and NGOs.

Protesters are set to take to the streets in two days time to mark the annual demonstration commemorating the 39 people killed in protests on December 19 and 20, 2001, the year of Argentina’s worst-ever economic, social and political crisis.

Pettovello took pre-emptive aim at the organisers of the demonstrations as she warned them that “those who cut do not get paid” – repeating a line used by Milei in his December 10 inauguration speech.



‘Eliminate the middleman’

The brief two-minute video was Pettovello’s first public appearance as head of the new government portfolio.

Addressing her remarks to “the mothers, children and families who need assistance during this difficult time for our country,” she warned that Milei’s government would soon begin auditing “all social organisations” in order to start “a process to eliminate the middleman.”

“Over the next few days, picketer organisations have called for a protest,” said the minister. “We wish to specify that even though it is a right to demonstrate, so is respecting the right of people to circulate freely to get to their jobs.”

"We inform that all those who have promoted, instigated, organised or participated in the protests will lose the dialogue [it has] with the Human Capital Ministry," warned Pettovello.

Saying she sought to bring “calm” to those who receive state aid, she said they should know “no-one can force them to go to a demonstration with the threat of losing their benefits.”

“For this reason, we’ll suspend checks of attendance certificates issued by social organisations. We must repeat that they won’t be able to cancel your plan anymore,” Pettovello stressed.

Pettovello went on to criticise “mothers who go to demonstrations with their children,” saying it is “unnecessary to expose them to heat and the violence of demonstrations.”

Warning of potential action against such behaviour, she warned “this situation has to end in the new Argentina.”

Poll: 75% believe people will pay for austerity

A new study by Zuban Córdoba y Asociados has assessed the general view of recent economic measures of Milei’s government, finding that 75 percent believe the cost of austerity will be paid by the people, despite the libertarian’s claims on the campaign trail that “the adjustment will be paid by the caste”.

The survey was conducted online and covered 1,400 cases, all adults over 16 years old, between December 13 and 14.

Even though three in four of those surveyed are convinced that the people will have to pay for the adjustment by the libertarian government, only 45 percent trusts it will be paid by the “political caste.”

Underlining public awareness of Argentina’s precarious economic situation, 60 percent insist that the economist’s administration needs to be given some leeway, as against 27 percent who claim they will not wait longer than three months.

In this context, a further 10 percent of those surveyed stated they would give the news government six months’ leeway, as against 32 percent who claimed they would wait for him to finish his term.

It is worth noting that 50.6 percent consider “there is light at the end of the tunnel,” unlike 39.2 who believe otherwise.

Public perception

In this same vein, regarding the perception of Milei’s government a few days after being inaugurated as President of Argentina, 48 percent claimed they trust the libertarian’s administration, whereas a further 50 percent do not. Similar percentages account for his image, where 51 percent is optimistic, and 47 percent is pessimistic.

In parallel, the head of state himself has a personal image which is 50 percent positive and 50 percent negative. Conversely, Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, has improved her image in relative terms with a 53.5 percent positive image, as did Córdoba leader Juan Schiaretti, with 49.7 percent.

Regarding the impact of the recent economic measures announced by Economy Minister Luis Caputo, 50 percent rejected some of them, such as the increase in utilities and transport, the suspension of public works and taking out new loans.

Nevertheless, those surveyed were in favour of privatising state media, eliminating government advertising in media outlets for a year, reforming the labour system, reducing ministries, increasing child benefits and firing state employees.

At any rate, 80 percent believe that adjustment policies will affect them and their families, while 47 percent would still support him if electricity and transport increase, 39 percent in cases he freezes salaries in a hyperinflation context and only 33 percent if he privatises public healthcare.



– TIMES/NA/AFP

 

[DEAD7]

 

[Piffiztheanswer]

Donnas pops bout to do damage to the argentinys

 

[Chronic]

 

[hashmander]

i love watching these experiments from afar when the people voted for it.

 

[bnew]

https://archive.is/tj9El

 

[bnew]

https://archive.is/NoZm4

 

[Theolodius_Black]

You get the government you deserve

 

[MushroomX]

I have a feeling that Javier's support going to drop like a rock real fast, probably happening already.