Rent and food prices have risen dramatically since the new government took office, and public spending cuts are hitting the lower and middle classes the hardest. Yet the president’s popularity shows no signs of waning.
The prices in the small grocery store “da Chiche” are all handwritten: due to inflation they change almost every day and it would be impossible to continuously print new plastic labels for each product on sale. But not only that, what is on display is not always sold in the original packaging because it would be too expensive for customers. The goods on display are very often loose: 100 grams of coffee cost 3 euros and 50 cents, 400 grams of soap 1 euro, 50 handkerchiefs 1 euro and 50. Fernando Savoreknown as “Chiche”, is 62 years old, is president of the Federation of Argentine Supermarkets and has been running his grocery store on the outskirts of Buenos Aires for 40 years. Everyone in the neighborhood knows him and he greets every customer who comes in by name. From the shelves of the store he has observed all the economic crises that Argentina has experienced in recent decades, but this one – he admits – is «particularly hard».
For years now, the Latin American country has been experiencing a very deep economic crisis, but this year it seems to have reached its peak: Argentina closed 2023 with the highest inflation in the world (211%) and in the first months of 2024 prices have tripled compared to the previous year. The new president of the country, Javier Mileycalls himself a “capitalist anarchist” and based his entire electoral campaign on the economic crisis. He promised to put the country back on track and to almost completely cut public spending carried out by the state. In his first months in office, Milei tried to keep his promises and state subsidies were drastically reduced, starting with electricity and gasoline which were partly financed by the state. Since the beginning of the year, thousands of state workers have also been laid off and many subsidies intended for the provinces, universities and public hospitals have been cut.
Rent and food prices in supermarkets have increased dramatically in just a few weeks since the government took office and today, despite the average salary in Argentina does not reach 500 eurosshopping costs as much as in European capitals. “In Argentina we have been living day by day for several years – says Chiche while helping a customer – but these are really hard months for citizens. When Milei talks about the “adjustment” (reforms to resolve the economic crisis), we must consider that we citizens are the ones who pay the consequences. Without the subsidy for electricity, bills have quadrupled. And this, for example, puts entrepreneurs, whether large or small, in great difficulty».
While looking at the goods on display, he continues: “Many of my customers voted for Milei. And, even though the reforms are very hard for everyone, people continue to believe in this government.” And in fact, even though since Milei’s government began there have been numerous strikes and protests (some very well attended) against the approved reforms, presidential consensus remains high and stable among citizens (about 50%). “I think that many Argentines are tired of traditional politicians and that Milei has managed to seduce them with his ideas,” assures the businessman.
Chiche, like many others, initially met Javier Milei thanks to her son (23 years old and a medical student) who followed him on social media. “When you are young you usually tend to have left-wing ideals, to be revolutionary – she reflects – but despite Milei having far-right ideals he has managed to convince a good part of young Argentines”. Milei’s victory and support for the government, despite the very harsh measures and inflation that has reached its historic peak, has surprised and continues to surprise Argentine political analysts. As she explains Valeria Bruscoprofessor and political scientist of the Network Not Without Women: «Most analysts described Milei’s electoral campaign as weak, weak because there were no signs in his support on the streets, but they ignored the fact that social media (especially TikTok and Instagram) were inundated with videos of the candidate. His support has changed over time, but especially at the beginning Milei was able to speak to those young people who feel extremely frustrated by the crisis, who have no hope for the future and who, by supporting this government, forcefully reject the traditional political class that has not been able to resolve the economic situation».
Milei’s cuts have hit the lower and middle classes in Argentina the hardest. – unlike other Latin American countries – is very large. But several international economists are concerned, starting with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) which warns: «It is important that the burden of reforms does not fall disproportionately on working families». But, despite the obvious difficulties, support for the government shows no sign of decreasing even among the lower classes.
Noelia Zuniga She is 28 years old and works as a taxi driver on night shifts. Her taxi is completely covered in pro-Milei stickers and Noelia proudly calls herself a supporter, as she says laughing: «I am almost a fanatic of this government». She met Milei by watching his videos on TikTok and was immediately captured by his ideas. «When I look into his eyes I feel that he is a sincere person, that he tells the truth – she says – I believe that he can really change everything and he is doing it». Noelia emigrated from Peru with her family when she was 7 years old and, by her own admission, she never followed politics before becoming a pro-Milei activist. «I like him because he opened everyone’s mind, making us understand a lot about the economy with very simple words – she says – above all he made us understand that they were stealing our future». Noelia says that last year, while the government was led by the Peronist candidate Alberto Fernandezhis economic situation has worsened significantly and he reiterates that he has great hopes for the future of the country now that Milei is president. “I am convinced that he will be able to eliminate inflation. And it would not surprise me at all if he decided to close the Parliament: they have never done anything for the country and now they are only hindering it.”
But not all Milei supporters are so convinced by the maneuvers carried out by the government. Pablo Torres He is 52 years old, a civil servant and in his spare time he works as a driver for Uber in the capital. While driving in front of the Pink Housethe Argentine government building, says: “I voted for Milei because the last governments have disappointed me a lot. But I didn’t vote for him because my life would get worse: my salary has further decreased in the last few months, but the cost of rent and groceries has tripled.”
Source: lespresso.it
