Javier Milei at the Madrid Economic Forum: 'DEATH TO SOCIALISM'

Madrid was the stage next weekend for a decisive gathering for liberal thought on a global scale: the Madrid Economic Forum, an event that brought together prominent figures from the economic and political spheres aligned with the ideas of freedom. With more than 7,000 attendees at the Palacio Vistalegre, the forum's grand finale was the participation of Argentine President Javier Milei, who delivered the closing speech.

True to his energetic and direct style, Milei made a striking entrance: jumping, singing, and waving his blue folder, accompanied by the iconic melody of his election campaign. The audience replied enthusiastically to his now classic rallying cry: "Long live freedom, damn it! Death to socialism!", a phrase that encapsulates the spirit of his government and his worldview.

"It's a great responsibility to be the first libertarian president in history," he stated at the beginning of his address, in which he did not hesitate to review the achievements his administration has reached in just a year and a half in office. With clarity and forcefulness, Milei asserted: "We had very ambitious goals, they said it was impossible, and after a year and a half we've exceeded all the campaign goals."

One of the most celebrated moments of his speech was when he referred to the unprecedented fiscal adjustment carried out by his administration: "They told us it was impossible to make a 5-point adjustment in a month and, well, that's what we did in Argentina," he explained. He added: "Not only was there no drop in GDP, but it rose by 6%," provoking an ovation from the audience.

Milei did not avoid the context in which he took office: "We arrived in a very critical situation, and if we hadn't adjusted[the deficit], today I wouldn't be standing here as Argentina's president," he stated emphatically. Using one of his best-known analogies, he pointed out: "Faced with that situation, it was pure chainsaw moment, but it worked."

The president also addressed the progress made against the country's historic inflation problem: "Even though we're in an election year, we lifted the controls and today the exchange rate is much closer to the lower end of the band. Again, a point for the Government," he emphasized. "Today, after those inflation rates were anticipated, they said it would remain at the 5% and 7% level. This month it's expected to break 2%. Next year, inflation in Argentina will be a thing of the past," he declared.

Despite the criticism he faced from opposition sectors, Milei highlighted that his roadmap remained firm and the results were not long in coming. "Throughout the first quarter of this year, the economy has expanded," he stated, adding: "The private sector is stable," thus reinforcing the positive impact of his policy of public sector cuts.

In the face of forecasts predicting a drop in his approval rating due to the severity of the adjustment, the president surprised with telling data: "Today our popularity levels are higher than when we took office," he revealed. He explained: "The adjustment doesn't cause a loss of approval if it falls on the political caste. Approval rises because we give resources to the people."

In terms of security and internal order, Milei was equally categorical: "On security and domestic matters we've been unequivocal: those who do it, pay for it." According to his own words, "today Argentina shows the lowest crime rates in its history," a result he attributed directly to the firmness of his policies.

In the final part of his speech, the Argentine president referred to his administration's foreign policy, reaffirming a clear vision of international engagement based on respect for freedom, peace, and free trade. "We have systematically taken a stand in favor of peace, of free trade, understanding that where trade enters, bullets do not," he stated. Along these lines, he stressed that his government is actively working to advance an agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, as well as a free trade agreement with the United States, with the goal that "Argentina will once again be an open and great country."

Milei emphasized that his decisions in international affairs are not improvised, but rather the result of sustained ideological coherence over time. "That is reflected in my alliance with the United States and with Israel; no one should be surprised by what we're doing in international affairs," he indicated, reaffirming his strategic ties with the democratic powers of the free world. He concluded with a phrase that sums up his leadership style: "I say what I think and I do what I say."

The president also referred to his stance against the advance of socialism and did not hesitate to double down: "Against the damn socialists, I'm always going to be on your side," he declared before an ecstatic audience, which took the opportunity to chant against the president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez. Milei's statements took place on a day when tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Madrid demanding the resignation of the socialist leader.

The Argentine president recalled his transition from academic analysis to political action: "If there's something that has characterized my whole life, it's not only saying what I think, but also doing what I say. After so many years from the stands saying what needed to be done, I decided to get on the field."

To close his address, Milei left a message of hope and ambition: "After so many achievements, the time for growth has begun. Today Argentina has entered the path that, if it continues to embrace the ideas of freedom, in 40 years it will be the world's leading power without a doubt."