TRAVERSE Issue 39 - December 2023 | Page 173

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Javier Milei , a shag-haired , rockstar type that openly admits he ’ s an “ anarcho-capitalist ” cruised to victory on a promise of vast reforms , that included economic change , and a better Argentina for everyone .
Milei ’ s first proposal was to dollarise the Argentine economy , to align it with the United States , and to make the US dollar the national currency . This means decommissioning the Central Bank in an attempt to stop the run away economy at all costs .
It ’ s a promise that would seem destined to failure as Milei ’ s Libertad Avanza party has no controlling power in the Argentine Congress , something that is needed to pass such a bill and have the constitution rewritten .
If the plan does make it through then it leaves the Argentine economy in perhaps a more vulnerable position as it would become reliant on the United States Federal Reserve ’ s policies giving Argentina little control of its own situation . Milei himself admits this is a risky proposition that could take at least two years to implement and in the meantime things could become much worse before becoming better .
Pre-election Milei announced that he believed Argentina should cut ties with China and Brazil , stating his government would not deal with communists . One hundred and eighty degrees was turned almost immediately after his election victory , to the relief of many who believed this would be economic suicide especially as China props up many aspects of Argentine life . In his turn around it seems that Milei had entrenched himself further in the ‘ right ’ side of politics .
Many of Milei ’ s views and proposals have left many bewildered , many of his suggestions have been tried before and have often left Argentina in a worse state than prior , in some cases with disastrous consequences .
Argentina has a tradition of enjoying the good times and riding out the bad , there ’ s little time for saving , a fatalistic approach that cares little for the future . The people seem to either view Milei with fevered optimism or dreaded content , with very little in between , his neo-liberal views
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