Argentine president Javier Milei in the midst of controversy over salary increases in the midst of a crisis

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, is in the eye of the storm after the revelation of a salary increase for high-ranking officials in the Executive branch amid the socio-economic crisis facing the country. According to a decree dated February 29 and signed by Milei and his chief of staff, Nicolás Posse, a salary increase of up to 48% is established for members of the Executive. The news caused a great uproar in public opinion and the political class, generating criticism from both the opposition and government-aligned sectors. Peronist deputy Victoria Tolosa Paz was responsible for spreading the information, highlighting the contrast between this salary increase and the difficult economic situation the country is facing. Faced with growing criticism, President Milei justified the salary increase by pointing to a decree signed in 2010 by former president Cristina Fernández that required automatic increases for government political staff. However, both Fernández and former president Alberto Fernández stepped in to point out that the current president had also signed the recent decree that included the salary increase. The controversy has highlighted the tensions in Argentina amid a severe socio-economic crisis, with high levels of inflation and poverty. Milei's fiscal adjustment policy has divided society and the political class, with criticisms pointing to the lack of coherence between the austerity measures implemented and the salary increases for high-ranking officials in the Executive branch. At a time when Argentine society faces enormous economic and social challenges, the discussion surrounding the salary increase for members of the Executive raises questions about equity and transparency in the management of public resources. The controversy is far from being resolved and will continue to be a subject of debate in a country immersed in a deep crisis.