President Javier Milei’s government is drawing up a series of urgent decrees and a sweeping omnibus bill to reform and “de-regulate” Argentina’s stuttering economy.
A government source, who said the moves will also address healthcare, said Thursday that Milei’s morning Cabinet meeting was dominated by the issue. The president and his team plan to introduce the decree at the start of next week though “no date is for sure,” the source added.
Within the government, there is a school of thought that believes that, “given Argentina’s current context, the natural thing would be for Congress to assign powers” to the Executive Branch, as was the case during the Alberto Fernández administration during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the measures being discussed (it remains unclear which will be altered by decree, and which will go to Congress) is a rise in the ‘Ganancias’ income tax floor, modifications to IVA value-added text and increases in the prices of petrol and diesel. Modifications to pension payment schemes for retired and pensioners, the repeal of the PASO primaries and the use of a single ballot in elections are also being debated by Milei and his team.
Thursday’s Cabinet meeting featured nine ministers, various secretaries and collaborators, and two non-officials: Mario Lugones, the president of the Güemes Clinic foundation, and Federico Sturzenegger, former head of the Central Bank during the 2015-2019 Cambiemos government.
Government sources said Cabinet Chief Nicolás Posse and Economy Minister Luis Caputo provided a detailed report about recent meetings with US officials. US Ambassador to Argentina Marc Stanley has visited the Casa Rosada in recent days, as have top officials in US President Joe Biden’s administration, including presidential advisor Mike Pyle, who holds sway at the International Monetary Fund.
Vice-President Victoria Villarruel also shared areas of concern and revealed to journalists that healthcare and security had been discussed ahead of Security Minister Patricia Bullrich’s later press conference detailing measures to clamp down on picketers and street blockades and ensure “the free circulation of Argentines.”
Milei was the first one to arrive at the Casa Rosada at 7.48 am in his 4x4 Hilux Toyota SUV, wearing his usual leather jacket despite the high temperatures. The Vice President and Foreign minister Diana Mondino, in turn, were the last to complete the delegation.
In attendance were the Cabinet chief and deputy chief, Nicolás Posse and José Rolandi and ministers Guillermo Francos (Interior); Diana Mondino (Foreign Affairs); Luis Petri (Defence); Luis Caputo (Economy); Guillermo Ferraro (Infrastructure); Mariano Cúneo Libarona (Justice); Mario Russo (Health); Patricia Bullrich (Security); and Sandra Pettovello (Human Capital).
The meeting was also attended by the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Martín Menem; secretaries Karina Milei (General Secretary to the President), Javier Herrera Bravo (Legal and Technical Affairs) and Belén Stettler (Communication and Press), advisor Santiago Caputo, and presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni.
– TIMES/NA
Comments