After the Peronist was found guilty of corruption Cristina Fernándezwidow of Kirchner, confirmed by a court, the Argentine president, Javier Mileisaw the opportunity to attack his weakened opponent and delivered a political coup de grace. The symbolic blow consisted of stripping her of the retirement and pension she received as a former president and widow of a former president. The two total the equivalent of 20,500 euros per month, an obscene figure compared to the paltry 304 euros per month for the majority of retirees.
Argentines hate this extraordinary allowance, considered unfair, established by Law 24,018 for former presidents and former vice-presidents elected by citizen vote. This is why they are commonly called “privileged pensions”.
Quick reflexes, Milei saw the opportunity to gain popularity by attacking this prerogative and did not hesitate to take it away.. The resolution argues that monetary pardon is granted “in consideration of honor, merit and good performance of the position.” But he warned that in Kirchner’s case “they become legally incompatible” because the corruption conviction shows that she “committed an offense in the exercise of the same public function for which she accessed the said attribution of privileges and to the detriment of the State.”
“The retirement of a leader is a privilege that should not exist in Argentina, especially if the person receiving it is convicted of having defrauded, from the highest echelons of power, the Argentines who saw their hopes disappear in the hands of politics”, added the spokesperson, Manuel Adorni.
Almost every past president has taken advantage of this advantage and benefited from it. There is only one, the late social democrat Raúl Alfonsín (1983-1989), who donated half of it to retirees’ associations. And Milei announced that when she leaves Casa Rosada, she will not ask for social security. Anticipating this, he said last June: “(Former presidents) have insurance, which is a privileged retirement. No! Enough! “If you did it wrong, you deserve to be starved because you’re a son of a bitch and that’s why they need to be eliminated.”
Cristina Kirchner obviously did not share this position and reacted angrily by posting messages on social networks. In an article in
The only thing you were missing, Milei!!!
It now appears that in addition to being head of the executive branch, you want to create and preside over a “court of honor” to judge the honor, merit and good performance based on past presidents of the nation. And to top it all off… A… pic.twitter.com/hMXHsIUUmx
– Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) November 14, 2024
“I tell you that the dictator Videla Yes, I was very afraid of him. But you are only making me pity and embarrassing yourself,” he counter-attacked. And he reprimanded him, asking: “Do you want to join forces with the judicial mafia to persecute me too?” Are you so afraid of me?
For the former president, Milei lacks legal powers in this matter. “Do you want to create and preside over a Court of Honor with the power to set and apply sanctions incidental to those of the judiciary?” he urged and recommended: “Stop giving illegal orders to your civil servants?”
This case reignites public controversy over what Milei calls “caste”. And this pillories the widows of former presidents who also receive privileged pensions, like those of Juan Peron (lives in Madrid), Alfonsine, Carlos Menem And Fernando de la Rua. But Milei didn’t bother them, even though Menem and De la Rúa were also accused. He has chosen as his target only Cristina Kirchner and, as Casa Rosada announced, he will also do so with his former vice-president Amado Boudou, convicted of corruption.
The corrupt, the looters of the State or the leaders of illicit associations are no longer honored in public buildings. Today at Anses the right decision was made 👇 pic.twitter.com/dhRvkemqiq
–Javier Lanari (@javierlanari) November 15, 2024
This is what the ruling party has called the “deskirchnerization” campaign of Argentina, initiated by the anarcho-capitalist leader and which is in full swing. On Friday, he ordered that a bust of Néstor Kirchner be removed from social security offices. Meanwhile, Milei is enjoying his glory days as he is the first president in the world to be received by President-elect Donald Trump since the election victory, at a gala dinner at his Mar-a- residence. Lago, Florida (United States).
“Javier (Milei), I want to congratulate you for the work you have done to make Argentina great again. It’s amazing how you’re fixing it and it’s an honor that you’re here,” praised Trump, who was photographed with the guest, his sister Karina and tycoon Elon Musk.
This week, Milei aligned herself with the next US president: Argentina has been withdrawn from COP29, the world summit on climate change. And he ordered a vote at the UN against declarations on the rights of indigenous peoples and the prevention of violence against women and children. Because of their ideological affinities and the way they connect the thread – they spoke for 25 minutes at the gala – the Buenos Aires president maintains hope that Trump will accept a free trade agreement between Argentina and the UNITED STATES. United States, which is incompatible with Argentina’s membership in Mercosur.
