Argentina's Milei defends economic plan with insults, blames feminists for low birth rates

Argentine President Javier Milei launched a fiery defense of his government's economic program, resorting to insults and mockery against political opponents and critics during an annual conference in Buenos Aires. Addressing business leaders and political figures, Milei used terms like "sons of bitches," "corrupt," and "ignorant" to describe those who oppose his policies.

Milei accused business elites, opposition parties, and street protesters of attempting a "coup d'état" against his administration, which began in December 2023. He also controversially linked low birth rates in Argentina to feminism and the legalization of abortion, claiming these factors have negative economic consequences and strain the pension system. "We are paying dearly for the madness of the green handkerchiefs (symbol of feminism and the fight for legal abortion)," he stated, adding that the "passion for killing children in the womb" is costing the country in terms of growth and human capital.

Addressing economic stagnation in some sectors, Milei urged businesses to "put on long pants" and declared that "corrupt" businesses must fail. He dismissed reports of over 30,000 company closures during his tenure as a natural reallocation of resources due to changing economic conditions. He projected that his government would achieve 8.3% economic growth by 2027, surpassing OECD country expectations, despite implementing "the greatest adjustment in human history."

He attributed Argentina's past failures to "doing everything wrong" and expressed ambition not just for mediocrity but for Argentina to become "the greatest country in the world." Milei dismissed criticisms about a "two-speed" economy, where certain sectors like energy, mining, and agriculture exports boom while most other industries stagnate. He concluded by promising to organize a musical show to celebrate the country's progress.