The mayor of Tres de Febrero, Diego Valenzuela, offers an optimistic but analytical look at the first year of Javier Milei’s management as president. From their perspective, the economic advances are palpable, although the administration faces significant challenges to consolidate the change in policy and social perception.
Economy: adjustment as a driver of credibility
Valenzuela highlights the fiscal balance achieved by Milei as a key achievement, the product of drastic but necessary measures: “This year for Milei was better than expected. I liked the economic change and, furthermore, the balls and the political decision not to let up. He did not let up and achieved fiscal balance quickly, with a chainsaw and with many issues that were left undone, but that gave credibility to the economic program. That is why inflation has dropped so much and country risk has dropped. I think the year ends much better than how it started.”
However, this path has not been without social costs. According to Valenzuela, society has shown resilience against the impact of measures such as the increase in rates: “What happens to society is that it is very resilient, so it adjusts its possibilities to the budget. They increased the rates of public services, that weighs more, and there are other things that are resigned. “I think what they are most resigned to is going out, eating out.”
The mayor reinforces his alignment with Milei’s economic philosophy, warning about the risks of excessive public spending: “If you go crazy with public spending on salaries, routes, all the issues that transform are left unattended. There it is very important to limit spending. That is what Javier Milei is proposing today.”
Politics: leadership and alliances to consolidate change
Valenzuela sees Milei as the leader of political change in this new stage, a role previously occupied by Mauricio Macri. According to the mayor, supporting this transformation is essential to avoid the mistakes of the past: “Mauricio did a great job, he was the president of change in 2015. Progress was made and there are things that were not achieved and that is why it was lost. The president of change of this era is Milei, let’s support him so that this goes well.”
The mayor also highlights the importance of strategic alliances, such as the one Milei has built with Patricia Bullrich: “Milei is leading the change, but she has a very important strategic partner in Patricia Bullrich. “That is the change that will win in the country, that will give it more air and more strength at the legislative level, and I hope that this also includes a victory in the province.”
However, he warns that internal struggles in politics can be an obstacle to advancing fundamental reforms: “What threatens an agreement with the ruling party are issues of ego and politics, sometimes poorly understood. At this moment in the country, we are faced with the possibility of moving the country forward with an economic reform that gives it sustainability and growth in the medium term, and we cannot put political parties ahead of the country.”
Security: the province’s outstanding debt
Insecurity continues to be one of the biggest social concerns, according to Valenzuela, and although he recognizes progress in national management, he points out shortcomings at the provincial level: “If you look at the national government, you see the importance given to order in the streets, to security and federal forces. I don’t see that in the governor and I would like to see it.”
The mayor also criticizes the lack of leadership of the Buenos Aires government to address this structural problem: “If you see people’s concerns, the priority on inflation has dropped a lot. Economic issues continue, but insecurity has always been there. There it seems to me that the governor does not see it, does not understand it or does not want to take charge of the problem because he knows that otherwise the problem will come to him.”
Future challenges: consolidate the change
Looking to the future, Valenzuela recognizes progress in economic recovery, but points out that the challenge will be to transfer these macroeconomic achievements to the daily lives of citizens: “I think we are reaching an end of the year that ends much better than how it began and that It will be consolidated next year. The challenge is going to be for this to spread more and, in addition, for the macro to permeate the micro more.”
In sum, Diego Valenzuela celebrates Javier Milei’s first year as a period of significant progress, but warns that consolidating change will require overcoming political tensions and ensuring that economic achievements translate into tangible improvements for society. Coordination between levels of government and Milei’s ability to maintain its leadership will be key in this process.
by RN
