Javier Milei celebrates one month in office as president of Argentina, after beating his main rival, Sergio Massa. His time as president was marked by the signing of Necessity and Urgency Decree (DNU)a mega-decree that would reform 366 legal regulations and which has sparked protests in the capital Buenos Aires.

Meanwhile, Argentina faces an uncertain economic outlook even after the crisis devaluation of the Argentine peso launched by the Minister of Economic Affairs, Luis Caputojust two days into the mandate.

Javier Milei devalues ​​the Argentine peso by more than 50% and cuts energy and transport subsidies

A spokesperson for Casa Rosada admitted that the number the price increase in the last month of 2023 could exceed 30%which would bring the cumulative figure to around 200% and Argentina to the hyperinflation.

Environmental reforms in Argentina

In December, Milei introduced his first controversial decree, which consists of: privatize state assets; limit the right to strike, maternity leave and compensation; repeal environmental laws; let football clubs be sports companies; rules change environmental protection, health policy, tourismamong other things.

Moreover, with the omnibus law it aims to restore the traditional functioning of economic, financial and fiscal activities, the state pension system and the cultural activitydismantling National Theater Institute and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The new law from Javier Milei’s government proposes to charge foreign students at public universities

According to Milei, the first months of his government would be difficult The fruits of the reforms would not be immediately visible: “I have good news: the improvement will be visible in fifteen years,” the president said in a speech. So far, his government’s main focus has been on these reforms.

Although the president would punish strikes or strikes with prison sentences protests affecting traffic, Argentina has already been the scene of several protests and ‘cacerolazos’, sponsored by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and other social and trade union organizations. The country’s largest union has declared a half-day general strike January 24.

However, last week the Appeal of the National Chamber of Labor has issued two precautionary measures against the DNU that temporarily suspend the labor reform contained in the decree. His reforms will also have to go through Congress, where he has faced criticism from the left, Peronism and the more moderate wing of the center-right Together for Change coalition.

Javier Milei defends his state reform and calls the opposition ‘sadistic’

One presidential decree that has already been implemented was the elimination of nine ministries and secretariats.

Milei deleted the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministries of Environment, Tourism, Transport, Public Works and Territorial Development, Education, Culture, Labour, Social Development and Women.

To reduce state expenditure, these areas will be managed by the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Human Capital, the latter two recently established.

On January 16, Milei will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, accompanied by Chief of Staff, Nicolás Posse; the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo; the head of the BCRA, Santiago Bausili and his sister Karina. (JO)