By María Josefina Arce
What awaits Argentina now, is the concern of the citizens of the South American country since the victory of the far-right Javier Milei, of La Libertad Avanza, in the ballot held last November, who became president this Sunday, precisely 40 years after the return of democracy.
There are many questions about the critical economic situation of the nation and Milei's position of privatizing, eliminating ministries and cutting social benefits on which many families depend. Appointing Luis Caputo as the head of the Economy in his cabinet has not brought peace of mind either.
Minister of Finance and president of the Central Bank during the government from 2015 to 2019 of the now former president Mauricio Macri, Caputo is equally known for being one of those responsible for the criticized loan of 44 billion dollars that the IMF, International Monetary Fund, granted to Argentina.
An international financial organization that does not bring good memories for Argentines, given the conflictive relationship established between both parties since the 50's of the last century and which has led to strong and unpopular adjustment programs.
But Caputo also has two legal cases in his record, one related to an offshore company and the other to a possible fraudulent administration and fraud against the public administration with the loan requested to the IMF.
The appointment of Patricia Bullrich, former presidential candidate of former President Macri's Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) as Minister of Security has not gone down well with Argentines either.
Bullrich's name came up again, during the recent conviction of those responsible for the murder in 2017 of the young Mapuche Rafael Nahuel, which occurred when the former presidential candidate was also serving as Minister of Security, during Macri's administration.
On that occasion Bullrich defended the actions of the five members of the Naval Prefecture, who fired indiscriminately against three young people who had occupied the Nahuel Huapi National Park, in the Argentine Patagonia. Nahuel was killed in the back.
Under Bullrich's ministry, the Maldonado case also took place. In August 2017 the artisan Santiago Maldonado disappeared in the Chubut River, also in Patagonia, during an eviction.
Two months later his body appeared. Despite criticism and protests Bullrich kept his position throughout Macri's term in office.
These are some of the signs of what awaits Argentina in the next four years with the arrival of Milei to the Casa Rosada. Uncertainty about the future is currently the predominant feeling among citizens.
