President Javier Milei delivered a doom-laden end-of-year address on Saturday evening in which he defended the measures his government intends to apply in the coming weeks.
The La Libertad Avanza leader constantly referenced his sweeping decree that intends to de-regulate the economy and the so-called 'Omnibus Law.' bill he is seeking to pass through Congress.
Milei, who has taken office amid economic crisis and runaway inflation topping 140 percent per annum, argued that he had received a country with “the worst legacy in history” and urged lawmakers to approve the reforms submitted to Congress.
The President’s address generated expectation, in a context of uncertainty after the first “shock” measures the Government implemented to de-regulate the economy and reform the State.
The head of Ssate insisted in the “economic legacy” of the previous administration and defended the package of measures that the ruling party sent to Congress.
In his end-of-year speech, the President once again adopted a severe tone and even warned about a “social catastrophe of biblical proportions” in case La Libertad Avanza’s government programme were obstructed.
The chief executive urged legislators to enact the bill sent to Congress and pointed out that “he is convinced it will be approved”. In this respect, he stated that deputies and senators have two choices: “to reject it and continue with the previous model, or to accept the bill to bring deep change”.
Likewise, Milei warned some sectors by expressing that “it’s up to legislators, unions and social leaders to be the solution or part of the problem”.
Through a recorded message, by national broadcast, Milei insisted on remarking that “the inherited problem is too profound and dooms half of Argentines to poverty”.
“Some have been surprised by the quantity and speed of the measures we have taken. The truth is they were necessary to curb the effects of the worst legacy in history", he added.
“These are the first steps to turn over the page and, once and for all, leave behind the caste’s economic model, plunging Argentines into misery for over 100 years. The drastic change from this impoverishing model is a non-negotiable commitment I’ve undertaken with all Argentines”, Milei continued.
“We have a national emergency situation which requires us to act immediately and decisively, with as many tools as possible, which are well beyond the resources we have used these first few weeks. Unless we do what it takes now, we’re headed for an economic catastrophe of a scale that is unknown to any living Argentine”, the President warned.
Milei insisted that 2024 “will be tough,” but he clarified that “I’ve always said that I would rather tell an uncomfortable truth than a comfortable lie”.
In the final stretch of his address, the head of State wished “all Argentines a happy new year”, and he hinted at his hope “for us to turn around a century of failure. God bless the Argentine people and may the forces of heaven be with us”.
-- TIMES/PERFIL
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