The escalating feud between President Javier Milei and Vice-President Victoria Villarruel centers on the contentious issue of pension increases, with Milei vowing to veto a recently approved bill aimed at raising pension payments amid allegations of betrayal from his running mate.
### Tensions Rise Between Argentina's President and Vice-President Over Pension Hikes
### Tensions Rise Between Argentina's President and Vice-President Over Pension Hikes
In a heated exchange, President Javier Milei and Vice-President Victoria Villarruel clash over pension policies, revealing deep divisions within the Argentine government.
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In a fiercely contested political landscape, Argentine President Javier Milei is facing a backlash from his vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, over pension reform issues that threaten to undermine his economic agenda. The conflict surged after the Senate passed a motion to increase pensions and disability allowances, a measure that Milei vehemently opposed.
Milei took to social media platform X, sharing posts that labeled Villarruel as "stupid" and a "traitor," inciting her to retort by demanding that he "grow up." The president's frustration stems from a significant congressional defeat where senators aligned with his administration boycotted the session, allowing the motion to pass with 52 votes in favor and only four abstentions. Supporters of the increase argue it is critical for pensioners to maintain their standard of living amidst rising costs.
As an advocate for fiscal conservatism, Milei asserts that such expenditures jeopardize his efforts to eliminate Argentina’s persistent fiscal deficit and control inflation. Despite heralding a budget surplus for 2024—the first in over a decade—and witnessing a drop in the monthly inflation rate to levels not seen in five years, the austerity measures that underlie his policy have sparked widespread protests among pensioners, who have taken to the streets weekly demanding financial relief.
In the wake of the Senate's approval, Milei reiterated his intention to utilize his veto power against the pension increase, confidently predicting that he would block the initiative. Further intensifying the public spat, he reposted negative comments regarding Villarruel, who countered by stressing the urgency of supporting pensioners and disabled populations, suggesting that savings could be achieved by cutting back on expenditures for intelligence services and his international trips.
Villarruel, who as vice-president also serves as the president of the Senate, has been at the forefront of this debate, expressing exasperation and advising Milei to "act like an adult" in the face of criticism. This ongoing disagreement highlights the fragile alliance between the two leaders as they grapple with competing visions for Argentina's economic future.
In a fiercely contested political landscape, Argentine President Javier Milei is facing a backlash from his vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, over pension reform issues that threaten to undermine his economic agenda. The conflict surged after the Senate passed a motion to increase pensions and disability allowances, a measure that Milei vehemently opposed.
Milei took to social media platform X, sharing posts that labeled Villarruel as "stupid" and a "traitor," inciting her to retort by demanding that he "grow up." The president's frustration stems from a significant congressional defeat where senators aligned with his administration boycotted the session, allowing the motion to pass with 52 votes in favor and only four abstentions. Supporters of the increase argue it is critical for pensioners to maintain their standard of living amidst rising costs.
As an advocate for fiscal conservatism, Milei asserts that such expenditures jeopardize his efforts to eliminate Argentina’s persistent fiscal deficit and control inflation. Despite heralding a budget surplus for 2024—the first in over a decade—and witnessing a drop in the monthly inflation rate to levels not seen in five years, the austerity measures that underlie his policy have sparked widespread protests among pensioners, who have taken to the streets weekly demanding financial relief.
In the wake of the Senate's approval, Milei reiterated his intention to utilize his veto power against the pension increase, confidently predicting that he would block the initiative. Further intensifying the public spat, he reposted negative comments regarding Villarruel, who countered by stressing the urgency of supporting pensioners and disabled populations, suggesting that savings could be achieved by cutting back on expenditures for intelligence services and his international trips.
Villarruel, who as vice-president also serves as the president of the Senate, has been at the forefront of this debate, expressing exasperation and advising Milei to "act like an adult" in the face of criticism. This ongoing disagreement highlights the fragile alliance between the two leaders as they grapple with competing visions for Argentina's economic future.
