Argentine musicians come out publicly against Milei's ‘omnibus law’

More than 500 Argentine musicians and groups – including legends such as Charly García, Fabiana Cantilo and Gustavo Santaolalla – have joined together to sign a public communiqué against President Javier Milei’s sweeping "omnibus law."

The musicians lashed out against the “devastating bill” sent by the libertarian leader to Congress, which they said would seriously damage the national music industry.

The communiqué, also signed by León Gieco and Susana Rinaldi, slammed the sweeping economic reform bill for implying that music is “an example of cultural production" and claiming that it would allow "the logic of the market" to determine what is produced.

"The result of this logic would be a cultural production that has more to do with competition than with the transmission of feelings and values," alleged the communiqué, organised by the Mesa de la Industria y de la Actividad Musical (Music Industry and Activity Roundtable) group.

One of the most notable signatories is La Renga, a rock band whose song ‘Panic Show’ is often played and sung by Milei at his public events.

The band initially rejected associations with Milei back in 2021, saying that: “We don't want to have someone disguised as a friend talking about freedom".

Milei’s so-called "omnibus law," which has yet to be analysed by Congress, comprises 664 articles proposing sweeping changes to Argentina’s political system, educational institutions, pension schemes, labour relations and protest rights.

Among other reforms, it reduces funding for Argentina’s Instituto Nacional de la Música (National Institute of Music), as well as dealing similar blows to the world of cinema and theatre.

Milei’s ambitious legislative project – formally known as the “Ley de bases y puntos de partida para la libertad de los argentinos,” or "Law of bases and starting points for freedom of the Argentines" – is accompanied by further reforms outlined in a controversial decree that came into force last Friday.

Milei's mega-decree – which repeals or amends more than 300 laws or statutes – suffered its first setbacks this week when an appeals court granted two separate injunctions against its labour reforms, which are opposed by trade unions.

A federal judge on Thursday suspended the January judicial recess so that judges can rule this month on the numerous legal challenges filed against the decree.

– TIMES/AFP