“Showing outrage on social media is all they know how to do”: Kicillof security minister hits back at government over ruling blocking lower age of criminal responsibility

“Showing outrage on social media is all they know how to do,” Buenos Aires province Security Minister Javier Alonso wrote in response to the national government’s criticism of Axel Kicillof after a judge blocked the application of a law lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

The ruling came from Marta Elba Pascual, a judge in Lomas de Zamora, who accepted a habeas corpus petition filed by the Federación Familia Grande Hogar de Cristo. Pascual argued that the law would not benefit society or young people without mechanisms for reintegration.

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Showing outrage on social media is all they know how to do.

Chief of Cabinet Diego Santilli had criticized Kicillof’s silence after the ruling and accused the governor of being “on the side of the criminal, never the victim.” Alonso answered Santilli directly, telling him to focus on his duties and return resources he said had been taken from Buenos Aires residents.

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Lowering the age of criminal responsibility is not enough.

“Lowering the age of criminal responsibility is not enough,” Alonso wrote. He asked whether the reform also required new courts and specialized prosecutors’ offices, detention centers, infrastructure and staff. He questioned where the funds were that President Javier Milei’s government had denied the province.

“Without structure, resources and investment, your reform is barely a change on paper,” Alonso said, calling it “a campaign slogan.” He also challenged the criticism directed at Kicillof over a judicial decision: “Are we not a republic? Or is showing outrage on social media all they know how to do?”

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Without structure, resources and investment, your reform is barely a change on paper.

Patricia Bullrich also attacked the ruling, saying Buenos Aires had a permissive justice system that released criminals to continue stealing, killing and destroying families. She said Kicillof stood with criminals while residents lived behind bars and without security. Alonso’s response maintained that lowering the age alone would not create the system needed to implement the reform.

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Are we not a republic?