In the transition between the cycle Pablo Rossi and Eduardo Feinmann, the driver of The A24 newscast referred to the speech that the president Javier Milei presented in the National Congress for the opening of the ordinary sessions. “The imprint of this president has nothing to do with all the presidents we have known from ’83 onwards. Reading some things about Sarmiento, in parliament, he was a bastard and confronted them. Churchill, for example, in the English parliament also responded that way,” the journalist highlighted on air.
The opening of 144th period of ordinary sessions of the Congress of the Argentine Nation he March 1 of this year with the president’s speech Javier Milei It marked one of the most intense and polarized acts in recent years. The day started late at night, with the president’s entry around 9 p.m.escorted by members of the Horse Grenadier Regiment and accompanied by authorities from the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, in a context of expectation and political tension.
From the beginning of the speech—transmitted by national chain and lasting more than an hour and a half— Milei imposed a combative tone. He contrasted the country’s situation at the beginning of his administration with the current one, stating that “2 years ago we were trapped in a present that condemned us to the past… today we look to the future again with hope,” a phrase that sought to underline his narrative of “radical change.” Their definitions generated different reactions within the venue.
A sector of pro-government legislators vigorously applauded each block of combative phrases, while from opposition benches came silence, murmurs and specific verbal confrontations. Critical legislators interrupted with comments from their benches, and then, through social media and interviews, several questioned the President’s tough style. The speech reviewed the achievements of the national government in the economy, reforms and deregulations, with a quantitative review of measures.
Indignation against his adversaries was a defining feature. Among the most controversial passages, Milei launched direct statements against Kirchnerism and other political sectors: “manga of thieves, manna of jets… that is why they have their leader imprisoned and he will remain imprisoned,” in reference to judicial cases of former presidents. These types of expressions, more typical of campaign speeches than formal events, lit up the room and fueled the narrative of confrontation with the opposition.
Other resonant moments included descriptions of ambitious reforms—such as tax reductions, economic deregulation, and profound institutional proposals—with phrases like “we have the most reformist Congress in history” and criticism of “corrupt and inefficient politicians,” in an atmosphere more akin to a political rally than a solemn session. Some media described shouts and accusations exchanged between the ruling party and the opposition, which transformed the opening into a moment of strong institutional and political tension.
In another section, when justifying the fiscal adjustment and economic direction, he returned to his emblematic slogan: “There is no money,” and added: “I prefer an uncomfortable truth rather than a comfortable lie.” He also warned legislators who resist his reforms that “they are going to have to explain to society why they defend privileges,” in a clear sign of confrontation towards Congress.
In conclusion, analysts and opposition legislators interpreted the president’s style as a deliberate choice of confrontation that, according to them, seeks to “cover up the current crisis” with verbal aggressiveness and highlight his own achievements, while the ruling party highlighted the political strength after the approval of key reforms in the last year. Altogether, the opening of the 2026 sessions not only served to outline the political and legislative agenda of the year, but also to show the level of political polarization and the confrontational discursive strategy that Milei has imposed at the center of Argentine political power.
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