Buenos Aires (Argentina), December 11 – In a surprising turn of events, Javier Milei, an economist and former political commentator, was sworn in as Argentina’s new president on Sunday, December 10, marking the rise of political newcomers who gained popularity by advocating for economic reforms.
Javier Milei’s predecessor, Alberto Fernandez, presided over the swearing-in ceremony before Argentina’s Congress in Buenos Aires. According to the CNN report, Milei spoke about his intent to slash spending during his election campaign and took the oath before giving his first speech as president, vowing to bring about sweeping changes to revive Argentina’s struggling economy.
Addressing a crowd from the grand stairwell outside Congress in Buenos Aires, Milei took the oath of office and declared, “Today, it’s the start of a new era for Argentina; today we close a long and sad history of decadence and decline, and we take the road of reconstruction of our country.” He said, “Argentineans have overwhelmingly expressed their desire for change that has no turning back.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Notably, the Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was also present and hailed Milei as a “clear supporter of Israel”. Cohen revealed on X (formerly known as Twitter), that he and the families of abductees had met with Milei before the swearing-in ceremony, where they discussed important matters, such as the war against Hamas and the immediate release of all abductees.
Milei’s election victory came after he secured 55.9 percent of the votes in the runoff on November 19, defeating his opponent Sergio Massa. His campaign resonated with the Argentinean population, who were eager for change and hopeful that Milei’s proposed reforms, such as dollarization, would address the country’s economic challenges.
Since his election, Milei has wasted no time in establishing connections with key international players. He has already held meetings with top US officials in Washington and collaborated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to develop a plan aimed at reshaping Argentina’s foreign policy and revitalizing its economy, which is currently in crisis.
One of Milei’s most notable policy positions is his opposition to abortion rights. He has also been vocal about his skepticism towards climate change, which he views as a “lie of socialism.” In addition, he has pledged to reduce government spending by closing ministries, such as education, culture, and diversity, as well as eliminating public subsidies.
Milei’s political agenda also includes advocating for reduced regulations on gun control and transferring authority over the penitentiary system from civilians to the military, both of which are part of his tough-on-crime approach.
With Milei at the helm, Argentina is poised to enter uncharted territory. His promise to dollarize the economy, if implemented, would make Argentina the first country of its size to relinquish control of its monetary policy to decision-makers in Washington.
As Argentina embarks on this new chapter under Milei’s leadership, the world watches with great anticipation to see how his bold reforms will shape the country’s future and whether they will bring about the economic rejuvenation that many Argentinians are longing for.