1 week Ago By Buenos Aires Herald
Argentine President Javier Milei gave a presentation he said was meant to be a “pro bono private lesson” to former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. The president’s statements came in response to a letter the Peronist leader uploaded to social media site X commenting on the situation of the country’s economy. “Given the aberrations and inconsistencies in [Kirchner’s] letter today and all the damage she has caused to Argentina, I am going to have to explain obvious things”, Milei said during his Friday speech at the Argentine Institute of Finance Executives.
“Greetings Cris, this is for you.” Earlier that day, Kirchner had published a document titled “It’s the bimonetary economy, stupid. Contributions to an Argentine debate.
” The former president and vice president criticized the Milei administration’s handling of the economy, stating that it has led to a “brutal drop” in economic activity that had made Argentina more expensive in dollars than other developing countries of the world. “This makes the 3% or 4% monthly inflation rate, which Milei and his ineffable economy minister would have us believe is a success, into a real social tragedy, since it is taking place within the framework of a deep economic recession,” she wrote. Kirchner also criticized past Peronist administrations, including her own two terms (2007-2011, 2011-2015) and Alberto Fernández’s tenure (2019-2023).
She called out Fernández’s mismanagement of the country’s reserves, saying it caused a scarcity crisis. Kirchner also criticized Fernández’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund on the grounds that it “validated” the record-breaking loan former President Macri took with the lender in 2018. She also pointed out that past Peronist administrations have been unsuccessful in changing the “inefficient” model of the “omnipresent state,” neglected the issue of security, and failed to reduce the fiscal deficit.
Milei, however, focused on the criticisms she made of his government. He accused Kirchner of surrounding herself with “numerical illiterates who destroyed the country with their economic shamanism.” “If you want to learn a little bit, turn on the TV today at 7 pm and I will be giving you a pro bono private lesson,” he wrote.
Kirchner answered, quoting the plagiarism accusations against Milei and saying he spends too much time “fooling around on social media.” “Stop wasting time on Twitter and start managing the state, because Argentines are having a very, very bad time,” she wrote. During his presentation, Milei blamed the Central Bank for Argentina’s inflation, said that the rise in prices is caused by the rise in the exchange rate, and compared himself to the late U.
S. professional boxer Muhammad Ali. “Cassius Clay used to call the photographers and tell them to get ready because the knock-out was coming,” he said.
“Take the picture because another knock-out is coming for Mrs. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.” Before the presentation, Kirchner invited Milei to discuss at the Patria Institute, the think tank she founded.
“Whenever you want, because you have time and you dedicate it to fooling around online, I’ll wait for you at the Patria and I’ll explain a little bit. Best regards..
. To you and all the ‘forces of heaven’”, she said, quoting Milei’s way of referring to himself and his supporters. The president has yet to accept the invitation.
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