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Politics Thread: President Javier Milei - Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) in real-time

OK today's update in one man's quest to ruin a country the fastest possible.




MY summary:

So, they shut down INADI, which is like a big deal. And get this – they're all for wrecking the environment! Plus, they're bringing back old-school "asylums" for people they think are cray-cray. And guess what? Foreign troops can just stroll into Argentina without asking Congress first – like, what?!

And if you thought that was wild, they're putting the squeeze on our right to hang out. Now there are these random rules saying we can't gather with three or more people. Lame, right? Oh, and judges gotta rock black robes only – like they're going to a goth party or something.

But it gets worse. They're killing off cool little bookshops and cutting funds for cultural events. No more indie bookstores, no more awesome shows or festivals. It's a major bummer for creativity and stuff.

And hold up – the government wants a free pass to rack up foreign debt without Congress giving the thumbs up. That's like giving them a blank check without anyone watching. Seriously, this is not cool and could mess things up big time! 😱


BBC's Summary:

Three reform packages in three weeks of government. And the biggest one was left for last.


With barely 17 days in power, Javier Milei sent to the Argentine Congress this Wednesday an “omnibus law” – or project with many laws – that makes up the third and final part of the liberal reform plan with which he plans to “give a turning point in Argentine history.”

The new president had barely been in office for 48 hours when his Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo , announced 10 “emergency measures” to deal with the economic crisis, including a brutal devaluation of the peso, which lost half of its value against the dollar in a single day.

In its second week, through the national network, Milei himself announced the details of the controversial “decree of necessity and urgency” (DNU) with which the Executive Branch intends to modify or repeal 366 laws that regulate different sectors of the economy.

This is a "megadecree" that has already generated questions before the courts, and that, shortly after being announced, sparked a series of “cacerolazos” (protests of neighbors banging pots) and demonstrations.

Now, in the third week of the new libertarian government, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni reported that a “package of laws that will be discussed in extraordinary sessions, titled Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines,” was sent to Congress.
Milei himself pointed out that this legislative project is the most profound since it contains “two thirds” of all his reform proposals.

"Public emergency"​

The most striking - and worrying, according to its detractors - is the one that calls for declaring “a public emergency in economic, financial, fiscal, pension, security, defense, tariff, energy, health, administrative and social matters until December 31, 2025.”

A period that “may be extended by the national Executive Branch for a maximum period of TWO (2) years.”

In practice, if this rule were approved, Milei would have the power to decide on all these issues on which today only Parliament can legislate during his four years in government .

In other words, he would have the power of both the Executive and the Legislative in his hands, a controversial proposal that, in practice, has little chance of being approved by the legislators of the ruling party La Libertad Avanza, who are a minority, according to many analysts.

What does the “omnibus law” say?​

While Milei's "megadecree" proposes to deregulate a wide variety of economic sectors, such as labor, commercial, real estate, aeronautics, health and even soccer clubs, the package of laws focuses on areas that, according to the Constitution, can only be modified by Congress.

“The text includes profound, necessary and urgent reforms in tax, labor, criminal, energy and electoral matters,” Adorni explained.
The more than 600 articles of the “omnibus law” modify twenty laws.

There is a chapter dedicated to State reform, which proposes declaring all public sector companies “subject to privatization. ”

These are about 40 state companies, including the oil company YPF, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Banco Nación, the Casa de Moneda (where the banknotes are printed), the Télam news agency, the water company AYSA and Ferrocarriles Argentinos.

The chapter on electoral reform includes the elimination of the Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries, better known as PASO, which have been a source of controversy since their creation in 2009.

And it is proposed to change the composition of the Chamber of Deputies, going from the current system, which determines the number of representatives proportionally to the population, to a system of single-member constituencies , which implies the division of the country into 254 constituencies with one deputy per each.

It also incorporates new limits on demonstrations , increasing penalties to up to four years in prison for those who use weapons to interrupt public transportation service or up to five years for those who “direct, organize or coordinate a meeting or demonstration that prevents, hinders or hinders circulation or public or private transportation".

The penalty will be even greater if people are extorted into attending a protest by threatening to take away their social assistance.

Meanwhile, the government proposal eliminates penalties for those who use weapons "in the performance of a duty or in the legitimate exercise of their right, authority or position." Currently the Penal Code only allows the use of weapons by security forces. when your life or the lives of other people are at risk.”

Viability​

Although some of the proposals - particularly the electoral reform - have the endorsement of different political forces, it is likely that many of the 664 articles of the “omnibus law” will not end up being approved.

“Milei sent his idea of a perfect Argentina, but he did not take much into account political viability,” said LN+ channel analyst Pablo Fernández Blanco.
Although Milei won the second electoral round with almost 56% of the votes, in the first round - the one that is valid to obtain seats in Congress - he obtained only 30% and came second, 7 points behind Kirchnerism-Peronism, which has majority in both Houses.

With these electoral results, La Libertad Avanza today has about 40 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and only 7 in the Senate. That represents 15% of the entire Congress.

He must have the full support of the center-right coalition Together for Change, which was on the verge of fracture due to its differences regarding its alliance with Milei.

While Congress debates the “omnibus law” in extraordinary sessions called by Milei until January 31, we will have to wait until the ordinary sessions, starting in March, to find out how the “megadecree” is issued, which will come into force on December 29, if it is not stopped before by Justice.

Unlike the legislative package, which will be voted on part by part, the DNU must be approved or rejected in its entirety by the majority of the Chambers, and with only the approval of one it will remain in force.
 
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Javier Milei will change Argentina.

DNU = Do Not Underestimate Milei.
I totally agree with you Mr. Musk! Big fan.

I couldn't have said it better myself @Larry ! You nailed it my friend!

But viva la libertad right? LOL. I don't think this is going to turn out too well for Milei or for Argentina.
But how do you think things would be if Massa won? What would your excuse be then for insecurity and safety? You Peronists always have some excuse.
 
This sums it up!

“We do not question the president’s legitimacy … but we want a president who respects the division of powers, who understands that workers have the need to defend themselves individually and within the framework of justice when there is unconstitutionality,” said Gerardo Martínez, general secretary of Argentina’s construction workers’ union.


 
OK today's update in one man's quest to ruin a country the fastest possible.




MY summary:

So, they shut down INADI, which is like a big deal. And get this – they're all for wrecking the environment! Plus, they're bringing back old-school "asylums" for people they think are cray-cray. And guess what? Foreign troops can just stroll into Argentina without asking Congress first – like, what?!

And if you thought that was wild, they're putting the squeeze on our right to hang out. Now there are these random rules saying we can't gather with three or more people. Lame, right? Oh, and judges gotta rock black robes only – like they're going to a goth party or something.

But it gets worse. They're killing off cool little bookshops and cutting funds for cultural events. No more indie bookstores, no more awesome shows or festivals. It's a major bummer for creativity and stuff.

And hold up – the government wants a free pass to rack up foreign debt without Congress giving the thumbs up. That's like giving them a blank check without anyone watching. Seriously, this is not cool and could mess things up big time! 😱


BBC's Summary:

Three reform packages in three weeks of government. And the biggest one was left for last.


With barely 17 days in power, Javier Milei sent to the Argentine Congress this Wednesday an “omnibus law” – or project with many laws – that makes up the third and final part of the liberal reform plan with which he plans to “give a turning point in Argentine history.”

The new president had barely been in office for 48 hours when his Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo , announced 10 “emergency measures” to deal with the economic crisis, including a brutal devaluation of the peso, which lost half of its value against the dollar in a single day.

In its second week, through the national network, Milei himself announced the details of the controversial “decree of necessity and urgency” (DNU) with which the Executive Branch intends to modify or repeal 366 laws that regulate different sectors of the economy.

This is a "megadecree" that has already generated questions before the courts, and that, shortly after being announced, sparked a series of “cacerolazos” (protests of neighbors banging pots) and demonstrations.

Now, in the third week of the new libertarian government, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni reported that a “package of laws that will be discussed in extraordinary sessions, titled Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines,” was sent to Congress.
Milei himself pointed out that this legislative project is the most profound since it contains “two thirds” of all his reform proposals.

"Public emergency"​

The most striking - and worrying, according to its detractors - is the one that calls for declaring “a public emergency in economic, financial, fiscal, pension, security, defense, tariff, energy, health, administrative and social matters until December 31, 2025.”

A period that “may be extended by the national Executive Branch for a maximum period of TWO (2) years.”

In practice, if this rule were approved, Milei would have the power to decide on all these issues on which today only Parliament can legislate during his four years in government .

In other words, he would have the power of both the Executive and the Legislative in his hands, a controversial proposal that, in practice, has little chance of being approved by the legislators of the ruling party La Libertad Avanza, who are a minority, according to many analysts.

What does the “omnibus law” say?​

While Milei's "megadecree" proposes to deregulate a wide variety of economic sectors, such as labor, commercial, real estate, aeronautics, health and even soccer clubs, the package of laws focuses on areas that, according to the Constitution, can only be modified by Congress.

“The text includes profound, necessary and urgent reforms in tax, labor, criminal, energy and electoral matters,” Adorni explained.
The more than 600 articles of the “omnibus law” modify twenty laws.

There is a chapter dedicated to State reform, which proposes declaring all public sector companies “subject to privatization. ”

These are about 40 state companies, including the oil company YPF, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Banco Nación, the Casa de Moneda (where the banknotes are printed), the Télam news agency, the water company AYSA and Ferrocarriles Argentinos.

The chapter on electoral reform includes the elimination of the Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries, better known as PASO, which have been a source of controversy since their creation in 2009.

And it is proposed to change the composition of the Chamber of Deputies, going from the current system, which determines the number of representatives proportionally to the population, to a system of single-member constituencies , which implies the division of the country into 254 constituencies with one deputy per each.

It also incorporates new limits on demonstrations , increasing penalties to up to four years in prison for those who use weapons to interrupt public transportation service or up to five years for those who “direct, organize or coordinate a meeting or demonstration that prevents, hinders or hinders circulation or public or private transportation".

The penalty will be even greater if people are extorted into attending a protest by threatening to take away their social assistance.

Meanwhile, the government proposal eliminates penalties for those who use weapons "in the performance of a duty or in the legitimate exercise of their right, authority or position." Currently the Penal Code only allows the use of weapons by security forces. when your life or the lives of other people are at risk.”

Viability​

Although some of the proposals - particularly the electoral reform - have the endorsement of different political forces, it is likely that many of the 664 articles of the “omnibus law” will not end up being approved.

“Milei sent his idea of a perfect Argentina, but he did not take much into account political viability,” said LN+ channel analyst Pablo Fernández Blanco.
Although Milei won the second electoral round with almost 56% of the votes, in the first round - the one that is valid to obtain seats in Congress - he obtained only 30% and came second, 7 points behind Kirchnerism-Peronism, which has majority in both Houses.

With these electoral results, La Libertad Avanza today has about 40 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and only 7 in the Senate. That represents 15% of the entire Congress.

He must have the full support of the center-right coalition Together for Change, which was on the verge of fracture due to its differences regarding its alliance with Milei.

While Congress debates the “omnibus law” in extraordinary sessions called by Milei until January 31, we will have to wait until the ordinary sessions, starting in March, to find out how the “megadecree” is issued, which will come into force on December 29, if it is not stopped before by Justice.

Unlike the legislative package, which will be voted on part by part, the DNU must be approved or rejected in its entirety by the majority of the Chambers, and with only the approval of one it will remain in force.
Thanks for yet another gem of a post willing to be patient and give the President that the majority of people voted in a landslide a chance after 17 DAYS on the job.

Give the guy a chance. More than a few days ok? Ha. If he fails then we will be just like Venezuela without all the vast oilfields.
 
Thanks for yet another gem of a post willing to be patient and give the President that the majority of people voted in a landslide a chance after 17 DAYS on the job.

Give the guy a chance. More than a few days ok? Ha. If he fails then we will be just like Venezuela without all the vast oilfields.
Actually Argentina has a TON of oil and gas too and other natural resources. Sure, I agree we should give the guy a chance. But we gotta call a spade a spade and I think he is making bone head moves.

Is he good for Argentina? Or would Massa do better? Maybe. But our inflation is higher than Venezuela right now. Good job President Milei!

Sure, former leaders weren't doing that great. But we honest and admit Milei is more of the same as before. He is just Macri 2.0.
 
Actually Argentina has a TON of oil and gas too and other natural resources. Sure, I agree we should give the guy a chance. But we gotta call a spade a spade and I think he is making bone head moves.

Is he good for Argentina? Or would Massa do better? Maybe. But our inflation is higher than Venezuela right now. Good job President Milei!

Sure, former leaders weren't doing that great. But we honest and admit Milei is more of the same as before. He is just Macri 2.0.
Why don't you just keep it real and spill the beans on why prices are going cray cray right now? Like, duh, it's not just 'cause Alberto and Cristina, but also Macri, Cristina, and even Néstor. Cristina left us with a massive money mess, with a 5.5% GDP deficit. And Néstor, he had those high crop prices, but totally skipped out on making the real changes we needed to keep things sailing smooth. Like, can we get the full scoop on why inflation's hitting us so hard? It's like a Netflix drama series but with OUR money.
 
My top thing about "liberty advancing" is how they're handing over the whole voting system to the crew this bill is all about.

So, Milei wants a first-past-the-post system like they have in the USA which basically locks in two-party dominance from the get-go. He's calling out the Peronists for focusing on what he calls "woke" stuff, but come on, isn't this just the far-right version? The economy's a mess, and he's picking a fight over the Jefferson Method?

I'm not gonna lie, I saw this coming. I've been saying he's just a right-wing populist pretending to be an economics whiz. But seriously, with all the real problems in the country, did he really have to dive into far-right projects now? I thought he'd at least wait until things settled down a bit before going all in, but I guess not.

And let's talk priorities. How is this any different from the Kirchners snoozing in October, chatting about Media Law and a new DNI design? The stuff they're focused on is so far from what the average misery the typical locas are dealing with, it'd be funny if it weren't so crazy!
 
Seriously, restrictions on hanging out with 3 or more people? What's up with that? Seems pretty random! Ha!

And about not liking judges in black robes – like, sorry? I get that this law has some points that need to be hashed out in Congress, and maybe some important stuff is missing. But, like, most of the laws getting scrapped are leftovers from past Argentine dictatorships, you know? It's like the old guard is throwing a fit because they might have to play by the same rules as the rest of us and actually pay for their lifestyle.

Just a heads up, Argentina's economic situation is kind of a mess thanks to decades of bad policies and super strict laws that put the state in control of everything – classic fascist move. Right now, it's ranked as a "mostly unfree" economy, hanging out with places like Ethiopia and Congo. Drop below 50, and it's "repressed" economy status, rubbing shoulders with Venezuela and North Korea.

To hit European levels, it needs to score between 60 and 70, and to be in the big leagues like Sweden or Norway, it's gotta hit 70 or more. And surprise, surprise, countries with high standards of living usually have tons of economic freedom. The Nordic countries, for example, have laws kinda similar to what Milei's pushing for.

And here's a reality check for anyone in the US thinking these laws are too much like their system – check out Sweden's rental contracts or tenancy laws. Even with strong freedom of speech laws, you need a permit from the police to protest, and they can say no if they think it'll mess with public order. Oh, and they have involuntary psychiatric care for the "insane."

Bottom line, Argentina's legal scene needs a makeover if it's gonna get better. Copy-pasting from other countries or slapping on more taxes won't cut it. It's about setting up a basic legal framework that lets the economy breathe and boosts living standards for more people.
 
Man, why didn't they come up with these rules like, 100 years ago? If Argentina had these laws like 50, 60, or heck, 90 years back, we could've been as functional as Australia, Canada, USA or maybe even cooler! And get this, most of these "new" laws are basically just borrowed from other countries where they're already implemented and functional . Like, no one's even questioning it – they're just copying the good stuff that works.


I don't see anything too crazy or extreme in any of these DNU's that Milei has offered up. Argentina is just bloated with regulations and laws that don't make sense and are too extremely geared towards the left.

So, a big part of the arguments against this is fear. People are scared of change, losing their perks, and the idea that those resisting change might get all crazy violent. And of course, there's this usual excuse that Argentina is somehow super special, so what works everywhere else could never work here. Classic move, right?
 
Let's get real. Most of the expats on here scared are not scared of possible crime or anything else. They are "scared" of their cheap electricity/gas/water, Uber bills getting around town and their cheap rents ALL subsidized by the Argentine government. Many of these expats will be gone once rates go up.
 
Let's get real. Most of the expats on here scared are not scared of possible crime or anything else. They are "scared" of their cheap electricity/gas/water, Uber bills getting around town and their cheap rents ALL subsidized by the Argentine government. Many of these expats will be gone once rates go up.
You might be right. Me personally I would be cool and have less money if I saw my Argentine friends doing better and life improving here. My cost of living would go way up but I'm cool with that. We all have to do our part but I agree with you a LOT of expats will be out of here. Especially the ones that don't own a place.
 
You might be right. Me personally I would be cool and have less money if I saw my Argentine friends doing better and life improving here. My cost of living would go way up but I'm cool with that. We all have to do our part but I agree with you a LOT of expats will be out of here. Especially the ones that don't own a place.
Nope. I'm not scared of prices going up. I already own my own place and pay no HOA fees on it. It's a PH. We are getting ready to buy a small rental property that we will do Airbnbs with. My wife and I both have good jobs. Life is pretty darn good. I can't complain.
 
I don't think anyone really is worried about all the expats living here in Argentina with this mess. Most expats have foreign currency/savings. It's the locals that you should care about. We must hope for the best for our great nation of Argentina.
 
I saw this if anyone is interested. Lots of companies going to get privatized which is a good thing as most of them can't turn a profit. It will be interesting to see who will buy Aerolineas Argentina. It seems like they have a monopoly and if the government sold them they would ensure whoever bought them had a pretty sweet deal.

 
Let's get real. Most of the expats on here scared are not scared of possible crime or anything else. They are "scared" of their cheap electricity/gas/water, Uber bills getting around town and their cheap rents ALL subsidized by the Argentine government. Many of these expats will be gone once rates go up.
So, like, my work gig relies on Argentinians having enough cash to splurge on mobile phone services. Obviously, I'm all about Argentina doing well 'cause, you know, that's where my interests lie. But, we might not see eye to eye on how to make that happen. I'm totally vibing with some concerns about the plans and DNUs so far. And, can we talk about Milei's DNU's? Some of it feels like a throwback to the laws from the dictatorship era – kinda sketch, right?
 
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