President links low birth rate to abortion law
During his speech at the Council of the Americas, President Javier Milei connected Argentina's low birth rate to the legalization of abortion, saying the country is paying a high price for what he called the madness of the green scarves, a symbol of the feminist movement. He argued that the population is not growing at a rate that ensures generational replacement, which he said affects economic expansion and the pension system.[S1][S3]
Milei used strong language to describe abortion, calling it a passion for killing children in the mother's womb. He said this passion is costing the country dearly in terms of growth and even more so in terms of the pension system. He made these remarks while addressing business leaders and private sector officials at the event.[S1][S3][S4]
Economic achievements and social challenges
The president defended his economic program, stating that his mandate was to lower inflation and grow the economy. He acknowledged that much remains to be done, saying the current situation is still difficult, but the overall trajectory is the best in Argentine history. He cited figures showing inflation falling from 211.4% to 31.5%, a reduction of 85%.[S1][S5]
Milei also highlighted other achievements, including removing more than 14 million people from poverty, reducing indigence from 20% to 6%, and cutting child poverty from 70% to 42%. He mentioned that the fiscal adjustment was the largest in history, with a consolidated deficit of 15 points of GDP, which was corrected, and he claimed to have returned 15 points of GDP to Argentines.[S1][S3][S4]
Response to critics on business closures
Milei responded to critics who argue that his economic opening and deregulation destroy companies. He admitted that some businesses disappear, but he said they are mostly one-person enterprises, while new companies that hire ten people are emerging. He called the focus on closures alone intellectually dishonest, arguing that one must look at both openings and closures.[S1][S4]
As evidence of a positive balance, he pointed to the unemployment rate, which he said is not soaring but stands at 7.8%. He also criticized those who only look at formal employment, noting that the informal sector represents 50% of the market and has seen wage increases of more than 40%. He insisted that looking at only these two sectors is intellectually dishonest.[S1][S5]
