Javier, the man of change

the transformation of an Argentine

In Argentina, that distant land of immigrants, psychiatrists (more per capita than anywhere else), incredible beef, and Malbec vineyards, perhaps the best known icons are blue and white flags fanatically celebrating the national footballers at World Cup matches and the Tango, a dramatic pas a deux still carried out exquisitely by aging, destitute couples for donations in the San Telmo district streets on Sunday afternoon. Argentina is an exuberant country even if too frequently depressingly inept with its political economy. But, hope springs eternal as do the early mornings following Buenos Aires dinners that don’t even begin before 10 p.m. (How do they keep those hours?)

President Javier Milei is proving an apt reminder of the complicated Argentines. An economist determined to wring bad policy out of the nation, which predecessors failed repeatedly to accomplish, through harsh medicine. He has slashed public sector jobs while opening the country to vast expansion of foreign investment, wiped out traditional labor support legislation, and swore he could tame the 300% inflation he faced earlier this year. Milei regularly dismisses public protests, even as poverty grows in one a country bountifully endowed with natural resources. When elected last December, Milei appeared to many as a mini-Donald Trump with his flamboyant disregard for traditional norms and promises to implement draconian changes. He even maintains prominent sideburns that out pace those of Ambrose Burnside, the U.S. Civil War general after whom they are named.

A month into his new economy, things are going surprisingly well with 2.3% gdp growth reported Thursday. The key, of course, will be whether he can sustain this shock therapy in the face of increased unemployed, a number bound to reach hundreds of thousands (if not millions) in this country of 46 million. In the first month, he already axed 70,000 jobs in the vast public sector, a legacy from the Peronist period. This is the nation, however, that had five presidents in ten days in 2001-2002 following one of the countless financial crises shattering the country’s faith in elected leaders over the past nintey-five years.

Milei also embarked on a personal journey which is surprising many in this nation from which the head of the Roman Catholic Church hails. Argentina is a deeply Catholic nation as the initial predominantly Catholic population welcomed millions of Italians during the period immigration influx from the 1880s through World War II. Pope Francis is the first non-European pope in fifteen hundred years, a proud attribute for the nation but indicative of the Church’s prominence in the country. Milei was brought up in the faith.

Over the past few months, however, the Argentine president has increasingly cited his interest in Judaism. Speaking at a Florida synagogue in April, Milei cited his grandfather’s late in life discovery of Jewish roots. Milei further indicated, but for the business so occupying him as he transforms the country, he would convert to Judaism immediately but must delay that action until after leaving office.

Argentines are the seventh largest Jewish population, with Sephardic Jews arriving among the earliest colonists despite the Catholic Kings expelling them from Spain and prohibiting their move to the “New World” in the late fifteenth century. The bulk of Argentina’s Jews, however, are Ashkenazi, escaping pogroms in Russian-governed areas of Eastern Europe around the turn of the twentieth century. As Argentina sought Europeans to populate its rather empty territory, Jews were one more group willing to work the farms or settle in the Buenos Aires slums as a refuge from hatred, ultimately reaching a high number of just under half a million in the 1940s.

Sadly, Jewish immigrants confronted the same hatreds in Argentina they find elsewhere. Because most settled in a particular district of the teaming Argentine capital, Once, it became labelled the Jewish town. On my first research journey in 1984, I wanted to visit the district out of personal interest in getting acquainted with various parts of Buenos Aires. When I mentioned to a third generation British-Argentine that I planned to visit out of curiosity, she looked alarmed, then lowered her voice to ask whether I understood it was Jewish.

Yes, I most definitely did.

Anti-Semitism has a long history in the Republic but it was perhaps most visible during the Guerra Sucia, between 1976 and 1983 when thousands of Argentines fueron desaparecidos, “were disappeared”—a grammatical construction rather than a mistaken translation. A considerable number of the desaparecidos were Jewish, unsurprisingly. Many Jews led protests against the 1976 Plan for National Reorganization that served as the basis to “disappearing” those who were deemed unpatriotic, unwelcome, un-Argentine, and un-Catholic. A second cause for Jews to suffer was that much of the military accepted rhetoric straight out of the German Reich of the 1930s, spurring a desire to purge the nation of Jewish blood. In a country with such a large concentration of Jews, this was especially unsettling. Jews emigrated primarily to Israel subsequent to this dangerous era.

Two major terror attacks on Jews occurred in Buenos Aires in the 1990s, the second act thirty years ago last week. President Milei attended public commemoration of that tragedy which took 85 lives. Both the 1992 attack on the Israeli embassy in Bs As and the later Jewish cultural center bombing were believed to result from Iranian agents in the Republic.

Milei’s embrace of his Jewish roots is a substantive signal by any president outside of Israel in an era of deep hostility to Jews around the world. Other politicians often discover their hidden faith later in life, not uncommon for Jews throughout the diaspora. As their families sought to protect themselves from anti-Semitism, the adoption of another religion while dropping lore about any Judaism in the family were actions seen as two bulwarks against harassment or worse.

Javier Milei stands on a notably different side of history right now than Viktor Orban, Vlad the Impaler, the National Rally in France, or other figures who subtly or aggressively blame Jews for the world’s problems. Milei has yet to convert but he remains unapologetically committed to Jewish rituals and celebrations so often disdained by the overwhelming majority in Argentina and the region. Milei appears on track to stand with Israel is a more meaningful manner because it’s the right thing, in his mind, to honor his grandfather’s legacy.

Time will tell whether Milei is able to wring out the economic problems and associated instability plaguing his nation since the initial coup against an elected government in 1930. A month’s success is far from assurance he will prevail. His personal commitment to another change, however, highlights a politician willing to embark on a path on his own, without obvious personal political benefit.

In an era of such pervasive cyncism, it’s fascinating to see someone take this sort of path. As of now, he doesn’t appear a politician all that interested in pleasing others with his actions which creates a refreshing vision of leadership. Politicians crave approval leading many to abandon their principles. Perhaps this one will stick to his.

I welcome any thoughts, comments, or rebuttals on this or any other column. Please feel free to circulate if you find it valuable. My deepest thanks go to those who put financial resources into helping me with this column daily through a subscription.

I encountered a charming wee flower on the balcony this morning. I hope you enjoy it as part of a restful, relaxing weekend.

Be safe and be well. FIN

Almudena Calatrava, “President Milei’s radical state overhaul officially becomes law after months of debate and protests”, AP.com, 28 June 2024, retrieved at https://apnews.com/article/argentina-congress-milei-law-president-economy-8deecd2adcdb82258a242b53d2474480

Juan Melamed, “Speaking at Miami Synagogue, Argentina’s Javier Milei revewals he has Jewish heritage”, JerusalemPost.com, 12 April 2024, retrieved at https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-796673

Manuela Tobias, “Argentina Economy Posts Best Month under Milei Despite Cuts”, Bloomberg News.com, 18 July 2024, retrieved at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-18/argentina-economy-posts-best-month-under-milei-despite-austerity