President Javier Milei is intensifying his defense of Argentina’s currency in anticipation of another substantial local debt auction, exacerbating the strain on the banking system and the wider economy as he combats inflation. The government is conducting an auction on Wednesday for peso notes and dollar-linked securities, marking the second such event in a fortnight. … Read more
President Javier Milei’s flagship RIGI incentive scheme for large investors has only imported US$26 million in three projects in one year. Seven actions were approved, 11 pending, and China rejected. One year after receiving Congressional approval and being introduced to much acclaim, one of President Javier Milei’s signature initiatives, the Régimen de Incentivos para Grandes Inversiones incentive scheme for major investments – commonly referred to as RIGI – has yet to gain traction. In the last year, a total of seven initiatives … Read more
According to a recent report by Torcuato Di Tella University, public trust in the government fell by nearly 14% in August compared to July. This marks the lowest point since President Milei assumed office. The Government Trust Index survey was conducted in the first two weeks of August, with its release following a week after … Read more
Argentine markets exhibited volatility this week, influenced by a significant bribery scandal impacting the Milei administration and a newly introduced monetary policy that has been characterized by many as precarious. The EMBI, a gauge of country risk that assesses the probability of debt default, rose to 829 basis points on Tuesday — marking its peak … Read more
In response to the bribery allegations involving a close associate, President Javier Milei’s senior officials are taking measures to mitigate the repercussions, which are impacting Argentina’s dollar bonds. This situation is exacerbated by a liquidity crisis that has led to a significant increase in interest rates. Argentina’s dollar bonds are being weighed down by bribery … Read more
A “dollarized” Argentina is doing well and a “pesofied” Argentina is struggling. Once the enthusiasm about inflation reduction subsides, Argentines will measure the Javier Milei administration depending on where in the social food chain they land. This will be measured by a simple variable: their standards of living vis-à-vis the past and their fellow countrymen. While it … Read more
Much like the formidable “Iron Lady,” the late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, whom he greatly respects, Milei makes it clear that he stands firm in his convictions. Javier Milei posits that permitting public expenditure to exceed the breakeven threshold, even marginally, would precipitate the collapse of the structure he is constructing, thereby jeopardizing Argentina’s final opportunity to achieve prosperity. In his recent nationwide broadcast, he articulated his readiness to challenge politicians, religious leaders, and those with progressive views who assert … Read more
Amidst a tumultuous week marked by political, economic, and financial challenges in Argentina, President Javier Milei is now confronted with a new corruption scandal involving a senior government official. Milei dismissed Diego Spagnuolo, the director of Argentina’s ANDIS disability agency, on Wednesday following the release of leaked audio messages by local media. These messages reportedly … Read more
In February 2024, Brazilian police have alleged that Jair Bolsonaro submitted a request for political asylum to Argentina’s president Javier Milei, a development that may exacerbate the former leader’s legal challenges. A 33-page document discovered on Bolsonaro’s mobile phone was dated merely days following the initiation of a coup-plotting investigation by the Federal Police during … Read more
Newly imposed liquidity measures aimed at containing a nascent peso sell-off have stoked tensions between President Javier Milei and the country’s banks, a sector that was largely aligned with his policy goals but now sees its profitability under threat. Bankers argue that the new provisions, which require institutions to hit reserve requirements on a daily … Read more