"Milei advances with radical reforms and dismantles structures of the Argentine State."

The Argentine government has taken a significant step in implementing its reform agenda by regulating the Law of Foundations and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines, the flagship project of President Javier Milei. Through a decree published in the Official Gazette, new guidelines have been established aimed at reducing state bureaucracy, privatizing entities, and reforming public employment, thus radically transforming public administration in the country. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni emphasized that this regulation is a key component of Milei's program, popularly known as the "chainsaw plan." Since Milei took office on December 10, 2023, public spending has been reduced by 32%. This drastic cut in spending is part of a broader effort to dismantle structures deemed inefficient and redundant in the functioning of the state. Under this new legal framework, the Executive has received significant powers delegated by Congress to implement changes in administrative, economic, financial, and energy areas for one year. Adorni stated that the government has the authority to close any public agency that is not fulfilling its function, and that all state-owned enterprises eligible for privatization will indeed be privatized. This approach has sparked both interest and concern in various sectors of society. As part of the reforms to public employment, a rigorous competency exam will be implemented for new state hires, with a computer tasked with evaluating candidates' technical abilities, rather than relying on bureaucratic decisions. This measure aims to eliminate arbitrariness in hiring and ensure that public employees are selected based on their skills rather than their political connections. Additionally, the government has decided to impose stricter penalties on employees who do not fulfill their functions, with the new regulation "Employee who stops working, employee who doesn't get paid." This policy has been promoted as an effective method to combat absenteeism in the public sector, which has historically been a contentious issue in Argentina. The decree also introduces the concept of "positive silence" in administrative processing. This means that if the state does not respond to a request within a certain timeframe, that request will be automatically approved. This measure aims to expedite procedures and reduce corruption associated with requests that remain stalled due to lack of response from public officials. The Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Federico Sturzenegger, explained that this regulation's main objective is to accelerate the implementation of reforms and prevent clientelism through "anti-ñoquis" and "anti-bribes" mechanisms. The elimination of entities such as the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racism (Inadi) is an example of how the government plans to streamline the size of public administration, although this decision has drawn criticism from human rights advocates. The modification of the Public Employment Law is designed to improve the quality of state employment, eliminate political interference in hiring, and strengthen the disciplinary regime. Sturzenegger has emphasized that over 20,000 jobs have already been eliminated since Milei's administration began, reflecting a commitment to reducing spending and improving efficiency in public management. However, these changes have not gone unnoticed in Argentina's social and political landscape. Workers' groups and opposition sectors have expressed concern, noting that these measures could lead to the precariousness of public employment and a weakening of labor rights. Amid this context, the Venezuelan community in Argentina has begun to organize and join global protests against what they consider electoral fraud in their home country. This phenomenon reflects how Milei's policies not only affect the structure of the Argentine government but also influence the social and political dynamics of migrant communities, which are increasingly feeling involved in the struggle for their rights and the pursuit of justice on an international level.