MIAMI.- In an act that marked the beginning of a new stage for ArgentinaJavier Mile He assumed the presidency on Sunday, December 10, forming a cabinet with both his close ties and a strategic opening towards different political currents.
In a leadership gesture, Milei initially placed trusted collaborators in key roles, underscoring the personal nature of his government. However, he surprised by incorporating figures from the political coalition Together for Change and preliminarily some Peronists linked to the former candidate Sergio Massa and the former governor of Córdoba Juan Schiaretti.
How will he be able to build the majorities necessary to promote his government agenda?
The central unknown lies in how this new government plans to build the majorities necessary to carry out its agenda. With a ministerial structure made up of nine main portfolios, the distribution reveals an amalgam of ideologies.
While “pure” ministers from the libertarian space will lead the majority. Three other key portfolios will be occupied by profiles from other sides: Luis Caputo, linked to the Republican Proposal (PRO) party, will be in charge of Economy; Patricia Bullrich, also from the PRO, will lead Security, and Luis Petri from the Radical Civic Union will assume Defense, reports the Legislative Directory (DL).
This combination seeks not only to consolidate internal support, but also to build bridges to different political sectors with the purpose of carrying out the nation’s project to get Argentina out of the crisis in which Kirchenerism has left it submerged. With officials linked to Peronism in each ministry, Milei establishes alliances to achieve consensus in the implementation of his government agenda.
According to the information portal Directorio Legislativo, the diversity in the ministerial structure reveals a strategic intent for overcoming party barriers and building a government that embraces political plurality in search of consensus for the country’s progress.
The leader of La Libertad Avanza affirmed that with his arrival to power a new era of “peace and growth” began that puts an end to “decades of failures, internal fights and senseless disputes that have destroyed” the South American country.
Governance with the renewed Congress
The elected deputies and senators of Argentina were sworn in last week in the renewed Congress in which the political force led by President Javier Milei will face an adverse scenario as it finds itself in the minority.
La Libertad Avanza, led by Milei, has 38 deputies and seven senators elected in the first electoral round on October 22, when Congress was partially renewed. This limited number will force the ruling party to negotiate with broad sectors of the opposition to advance with a series of economic reforms announced by the Argentine president.
Although Milei’s party is in the minority, it managed to significantly expand its composition in Congress in the elections, going from having three deputies to almost 40, while in the Senate, where it had none, it will have seven.
The now president of Argentina will require support from Congress for most of his reforms, either through explicit or implicit support. Although it could resort to decrees of necessity and urgency or delegated powers, both subject to possible invalidation by Congress.
Milei faces the central challenge of gaining legislative support for its reforms, having options such as decrees, but the key is in the balance of forces and possible political agreements that it can establish.
The current hyperinflation in Argentina is around more than 142% annually according to statistics.
Source: With information from Legislative Directory /AP/DLA Editorial
