"Viva la libertad, dammit!" It is Javier Milei's war cry. The new president of Argentina uses the term freedom to justify the authoritarian measures taken since he arrived at the Casa Rosada on December 10. The latest example is the so-called omnibus law, sent to Congress on Wednesday, which consists of 664 articles that seek to transform the Argentine political system by decree, declaring a "public emergency" until December 31, 2025, arrogant powers of the legislature This date could be extended by another two years, meaning that it would govern the four years of Milei's mandate.
Among the dozens of measures, there is one that exemplifies the risk Argentine democracy runs with a populist president whose vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, openly defends the last dictatorship. The "intentional and temporary gathering of three or more people" that prevents free movement or the provision of public services could be punished with up to six years in prison.
The decree is entitled Law of bases and starting points for the freedom of Argentines and includes, according to Milei himself, two thirds of the electoral promises. In addition to moving forward with regard to the privatization of all public companies, the omnibus law also includes a radical and significant reform of the Argentine electoral system.
It is the third major package of measures that Milei has announced in less than a month. As soon as he took office, he decreed a dozen emergency economic actions in a country with 161% inflation. The Executive devalued the peso by 50%, suspended public works tenders, eliminated energy and transport subsidies, announced a reduction in the number of public servants or canceled institutional advertising in media
A few days later, the far-right president sanctioned another mega-decree - which came into force yesterday, despite the fact that it must also be endorsed by Congress - which modifies or repeals more than 300 laws and aims to accelerate the deregulation of the economy, establishing the bases for the privatization of public companies, the promotion of private medicine or the liberalization of sectors such as wine, commercial aviation or real estate.
This week, the dismissal of 5,000 temporary public employees who had entered the administration during 2023 and whose contracts, which end tomorrow, December 31, will not be renewed.
The two mega-decrees must be ratified by Congress, where Milei and the Macrist allies are far from the majority and where the opposition Peronism has much more weight. Despite this, the president or his spokesmen issue libertarian proclamations every day, disparaging the Parliament and arguing that 55% of the votes gives him the right to carry out his proposals without the interference of the legislature. Milei threatens a referendum to approve his reforms if Congress does not approve them.
Meanwhile, the streets are calm, although there have been small protests that are heavily controlled by the police. The unions, led by the Peronist General Confederation of Labor (CGT), held their first demonstration against Milei in Buenos Aires on Wednesday and have called for a general strike on January 24.
On the other hand, Argentina confirmed yesterday that on January 1 it will not join the Brics group, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as planned.
