The Latin American Report # 361
Milei and the caste tale
The furious libertarian president of Balcarce 50 came to power with an aggressive discourse aimed at denouncing and overthrowing “the caste”, presented as a sort of scab that prevented the country´s growth. But in truth, Milei has shown that he was not against all the Argentine political-economic caste, but against that which he links to the Kirchnerist Peronism and other scattered actors of politics and economy. Former President Mauricio Macri and current Security Minister Patricia Bullrich were "caste" before the first round of the presidential elections when Milei was unloading his incendiary rhetoric against everyone. But when he needed to, he moderated his discourse and added them to his bandwagon to ensure his arrival at the Pink House (in Argentina, this is called having a “political waist”). That behavior of saying one thing and then backtracking when campaigning is somehow widely accepted by the people. Still, to me, it is plain manipulation and a despicable vice for democracy.
And much more so in the case of Milei, who presented himself as an outsider elected to shake the political bush, only to manage it in standard mode. Is his economy minister Nicolás Caputo, not caste as well? Is the new chancellor, Gerardo Werthein, part of an economically all-powerful family in the nation, whose individual wealth is valued at some $85 million, not caste? Arguably, Werthein is not "political" caste, in principle, but caste he is, for sure. EFE tells us that he lent Milei his private plane to fly to Washington to meet with officials there late past year. Then last May, Milei appointed him ambassador to the United States and later included him in diplomatic delegations in which the ejected former Foreign Minister Diana Mondino did not participate. The latter's departure continues to generate controversy, in part driven by Milei himself, who intentionally overstated a vote at the United Nations in which Argentina did not vote with its “allies” the United States and Israel.
Milei with his new chancellor (source).Puerto Rico
One way or another, AP tells us, the elections on this island, with its complicated political, social, and legal relationship with the United States, will be historic. Most of the voters interviewed by journalists of the U.S. news agency in San Juan seem to favor the party disputing the dominance of the traditional ones, which has captured the anger of a society tired of corruption and mismanagement. “I feel that for the first time, there is an opportunity for change,” said a 24-year-old arts student. “The bipartisanship is losing strength. I have faith that there can be real change”. The island gained prominence late in the election campaign after an unfortunate “tongue-in-cheek” mention during a Donald Trump event that struck a chord with many Latino voters' sense of dignity and love for their homeland. The Democratic bloc tried to capitalize on it in key places like Pennsylvania, just as Trump did after a gaffe by the bumbling Biden.
Voters in Puerto Rico (source).And this is all for our report today. I have referenced the sources dynamically in the text, and remember you can learn how and where to follow the LATAM trail news by reading my work here. Have a nice day.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha