Milei breaks Argentine tradition and will give annual ‘night’ speech before Congress

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, decided to break the tradition of the South American country and moved to 9:00 p.m. local time (00:00 GMT on Saturday) the annual speech that the leaders make on March 1 before Congress, which serves as the opening to the ordinary sessions of the parliamentary course .

Through a decree published this Tuesday in the Official Gazette, Milei surprised by establishing the new format of the first opening of sessions that will be inaugurated by the ultraliberal that took office last December 10, instead of noon (15:00 GMT) as was customary.

“With this change in schedule, the goal is to ensure that as many Argentines as possible can listen to the president after their work hours.” and “have the chance to see it live”justified this Tuesday the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, in his usual press conference at the Executive headquarters.

With this new decision, he continues a disruptive line with respect to the National Congress, since last December 10, when he became president, he chose not to give his inaugural speech inside the premises, but on the street, in front of his followers, which that many legislators considered contempt for the cameras.

Milei’s speech to lawmakers will take place on prime-time Argentine television, while emulating the style in which American presidents give the State of the Union address.

There is expectation for Milei’s speech, after the failed passage through Deputies of his star project, the Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines – known as ‘omnibus law’-, which established the core line of his Government program, deregulating the economy and reducing the weight of the State, for whose debate he had called extraordinary sessions until February 15.

The project went back to square one, and Milei has since clashed with lawmakers who rejected his initiative – leading him to say that Congress is “a rat’s nest”-, with the governors of provinces whose deputies voted against, in addition to clashing with the union sector and social movements.

Also at risk is a mega decree issued by Milei, which came into effect on December 29, but which several legislators seek to invalidate.

The leader of La Libertad Avanza (far-right) accuses all those who reject his reduction in public spending to achieve fiscal balance this year and lower inflation above the 200% as part of the caste that enriches itself at the expense of the “good Argentines.”