Looting in Argentina: a warning of things to come?

Many Argentines are excited about the fall of Kirchnerist Peronism in August's primary elections (PASO). The disastrous economic policies of left-wing populism finally backfired for the Peronists. Annual inflation is in the triple digits, and almost half of the country is in poverty. The middle class is destroyed, as is the national currency, and making ends meet can already be considered a luxury.

In the middle of this fire, two outsiders have emerged: liberal Javier Milei, winner of the PASO and leader of La Libertad Avanza, and Patricia Bullrich, head of Juntos por el Cambio. They aim to topple Sergio Massa, candidate for the Peronist alliance Unión por la Patria, in the October elections and to try to radically change the country's economy, politics, culture and national security. While Milei and Bullrich, who are now at odds with one another, propose drastic changes, the question is whether they can be implemented if either is elected.

It is true, Mauricio Macri managed to finish his presidency in 2019 despite not being a Peronist, but the truth is that he more or less maintained the status quo. While the country was in a bad situation, it was infinitely better than the current one. Strikes and violent protests were ubiquitous, something that does not happen now due to the blank check given to the Peronists in power. One cannot help but worry about what might happen if Milei or Bullrich were encouraged to carry out the radical changes that Argentina needs.

Enthusiasm is high, perhaps too much so. It is true that Milei's and Bullrich's proposals are tempting, and there are few who continue to believe in the presumed moral authority of Kirchnerism, which has always been used to cover up its injustices. However, as I have said repeatedly before, the system in Argentina is rotten to the core, and all the mafias that depend on that system are not going to give up. The looting in stores and supermarkets that has been taking place in the country is not surprising. I regret to say that it is only a warning of what is to come if Milei or Bullrich dare to make the revolutionary change that could take away the power of the trade unionists, the social leaders (read: poverty managers), the countless state entities full of useless parasites whose only virtue has been its militancy for Peronism, etc.

This whole broken system is built on decades of corruption. I am not only referring to the highest offices of power, but to the entire public structure that has produced several layers of corruption that keep millions of people poor and dependent on the state in order to justify its enormous size and the privileges of its beneficiaries. However, the crisis has gotten out of hand, and the situation has become unsustainable, which is why Kirchnerism lost resoundingly in the PASO.

However, as I mentioned, Kirchnerists and their henchmen will not give up. Will the mafia and billionaire trade unionists who are in charge of workers' health services sacrifice their piece of the pie and get to work? Will the so-called social leaders allow the billions of pesos they receive under the guise of charity to be taken away from them and start working in food kitchens? Will the militant parasites in state-supported companies and countless ministers, secretaries, undersecretaries, etc., be willing to forgo their privileges for some minor position in a company where they have to prove their worth? Of course not.

They will do what has to be done to maintain the current system, which is more than convenient for them. And if the poor can no longer be won with their usual crumbs, then more extreme measures will have to be implemented. It would be naïve assume that it is just coincidence that looting began after a terrible election for Kirchnerists. But this is not some crazy idea of mine, and one must not go way back into history to understand it. Recent threats from Kirchnerists have been plentiful. See for yourself:

- Daniel Catalano, a Kirchnerist trade unionist with ATE (Association of State Workers), said: "If Milei ends up being president, it will be a short presidency."

- Kirchnerist Deputy Eduardo Valdés, as a poorly disguised threat, maintained that only Peronism "guarantees social peace."

- Security Minister Anibal Fernandez said the opposition would leave "the streets soaked with blood and death" because its proposals could only be implemented with "repression."

These statements represent just a small fraction of the threats, some less subtle than others, that have been launched from the different layers of the corrupt and authoritarian Kirchnerist system. The Kirchnerist strategy is now based on scaring people by threatening their rights. According to them, people will suffer if Bullrich or Milei win. If they cannot generate this fear with words, they do it with their actions. And, unfortunately, we are already seeing images similar to those of the violent events of 2001 that ended with the resignation of (non-Peronist, of course) President Fernando de la Rúa.

Despite the hope that the primaries have generated for many people, we must keep our feet on the ground and be realistic. Taking into account all the above, will it be possible to subsidize demand instead of supply in terms of education and health as Milei proposes? Will it be possible to dollarize and close the Central Bank as the liberal economist also proposes? Will it be possible to take the business out of social plans from poverty managers and move to an unemployment system in which those who do not want to work stop receiving benefits? Will it be possible to end the almost daily street closures in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas? Will it be possible to close all parasitic entities and open the market like it should? I don't know. Both Milei and Bullrich, if they become president, will not only have to get the necessary votes from legislators to do any of this, but they will also have to deal with people who are willing to set the country on fire in order to maintain its the corrupt and impoverishing status quo.

They have the guts. Will it be enough? Only time will tell.