Instead of delivering the inaugural speech in the Chamber of Deputies, as usually happens after the presidential inauguration in Argentina, Javier Milei will address the citizens today from the balcony of the imposing Congress building. It is a symbolic gesture, since the new president only has 38 of the 257 seats in the Lower House and seven of the 72 in the Senate.
Milei aims to use his sweeping victory in the November 19 election as a popular mandate to implement a radical program of denationalization, including the so-called omnibus law, although many people prefer the nickname chainsaw plan.
The package includes, in principle, closing more than half of the ministries, cutting some of the 350,000 civil service positions, privatizing public companies and cutting spending to balance the accounts by 2024. "It represents, due to its magnitude, an unprecedented challenge in recent history", summed up Clarín yesterday.
However, it is unlikely to win the support of Congress. “[ Milei] will defend everything he does in the mobilization of the people as a tool of power before the Chamber”, said Mariano Fernández, Milei's former colleague at CEMA University.
No one would say it out loud, but turning one's back on Congress and speaking directly to the "people" is a tactic reminiscent of the true genius of political theater in Argentina: Eva Perón. His gigantic portrait, silhouetted on the facade of the former Ministry of Public Works, still dominates Avenida de Maig five blocks down.
Unlike Evita, it is not very clear that Milei can count on the support of the "people" indefinitely. "There will be a very big social conflict," Fernández added at a breakfast at the Los Angelitos cafe in Buenos Aires. "The unions are already betting that this government will be short".
Milei has abandoned the charges against the so-called caste. It includes two heavyweights from Mauricio Macri's government (2015-2019), Luis Toto Caputo, who will be Minister of Economy, and Patricia Bullrich, rival in the first round of the elections and new Minister of Security. Jorge Petri, vice-presidential candidate on the Bullrich ticket, will occupy Defensa. There will even be a handful of Peronists in the so-called libertarian revolution.
The financial libertarians – defenders of a dollarization that has already been ruled out, at least in Milei’s plan A – have been sidelined. Relations with Vice President Victoria Villarruel – a link with the most conservative sectors of the Catholic Church and the armed forces, as well as far-right parties abroad, such as Vox – have also been hinted at.
After upsetting the establishment inside and outside Argentina with his harangues against vested interests and politically incorrect rhetoric, Milei already considers himself an ally of the neoliberal consensus, a “disruptive” leader – ready to lead a draconian adjustment –, but more disciplined in the relationship with power than ever.
"Investors on Wall Street were worried about his ability to govern (...), Milei's signs of moderation are seen with a good eye," said The Wall Street Journal two days ago.
Milei has moderated, in some way, his speech on foreign policy. After causing a rift when he described China (and Brazil) as communist enemies, peace has been made thanks to the diplomatic skills of the new foreign minister, Diana Mondino. A senior Chinese official – Wu Weihua – will attend the inauguration.
Others present at the dam will be King Felipe of Spain, the progressive president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, and the heads of state of Paraguay, Ecuador and Uruguay. Milei will meet with Volodymyr Zelenski, the president of Ukraine, and also with the president of Armenia, an appointment that would be difficult to explain if it weren't for the strong influence that the tycoon of Armenian origin, Eduardo Eurnekian, has on the new president.
The Biden Administration is sending a delegation headed by the Secretary of Energy, perhaps a gesture towards Milei's desire to privatize the YPF oil company and attract multinational investment to the lucrative Vaca Muerta field.
The absence of the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, relativizes Milei's new pragmatism. After inviting former president Jair Bolsonaro and meeting with him on Friday, Milei closed the door on Lula. Brazilian Chancellor Mauro Vieira will be there.
The presence of other ultra-conservative leaders - such as the Hungarian Viktor Orbán - confirm that, as much as it has "normalized", its international allies are not from the most moderate club. Milei met for 40 minutes yesterday with Santiago Abascal, the leader of Vox.
