In the first quarter of 2024, Argentina achieved a budget surplus of 275 billion pesos, a milestone not seen since 2008. President Javier Milei proudly announced this achievement on national television, drawing comparisons to the year his political rival, Cristina Kirchner, came to power. Milei emphasized the historical significance of this surplus, calling it an “exploit” on a global scale. As an ultra-liberal economist, Milei explained that by not overspending and avoiding printing more money, inflation can be prevented.
Milei also declared his intention to eliminate the budget deficit completely, a goal more ambitious than the one mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with whom Argentina has a loan agreement of $44 billion. In order to achieve this goal, Milei initiated a strict austerity program that has faced criticism. This program includes halting public works, laying off public employees, closing government offices, reducing subsidies, and freezing the budget. This comes at a time when inflation is at 290% annually and half of the population lives in poverty. Despite the challenges, Milei urged the public not to rely on increased public spending as a solution to economic problems.