The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, has a new open front. Prominent activists in the fight for human rights presented this Monday before the National Congress a petition for impeachment against the president “for poor performance of his duties and possible commission of crimes.”
In the 25-page document, the artist and human rights reference Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize 1980; the former Argentine ambassador to Venezuela and the United Kingdom Alicia Castroand the member of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Línea Foundadora Taty Almeidaamong other signatories, have requested the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Martín Menem, to begin the impeachment process against the ultraliberal.
The promoters of this initiative, which must pass several filters before the holding of a political trial is actually approved, have cited the “economic genocide” -in reference to the harshness of the economic adjustment undertaken by the Milei Executive- as one of the causes.
This “brutal” situation deprivation of decent life for growing sectors of the people who are unable to access and satisfy their basic needs for work in decent conditions, food, housing, health, medication and education (…)” is derived from the decree of necessity and urgency (DNU) 70/2023, signed by the president on December 20, ten days after assuming the Presidency.
Currently, the bulk of the decree remains in force in Argentina, although was rejected by the senators and must still go through the Chamber of Deputies, it has received harsh criticism from civil society and is being studied in several judicial processes.
The promoters have considered that it is proven that “there was no need or urgency that would prevent the correct submission of the legislative proposals”, a consideration that had already been put on the table by jurists and experts.
“(Even taking into account its alleged procedural problems) We cannot fail to point out that the content violates, once again, constitutional supremacy,” the signatories of the document have noted.
In addition to the DNU, Activists have attacked the Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines -better known as ‘omnibus law’the star project of the Milei Executive that was rejected by the deputies of the lower house, where the president’s party is a very minority.
They have referred to it as “a mega law pompously named and with constitutional reminiscences”, and have harshly criticized the fact that the ratification of the decree of December 20 was provided for in it.
Furthermore, the signatories have highlighted that Milei could have committed “the crime of instigation to commit crimes”as in his recent speech favorable to those who evade taxes in Argentina, made before a business forum.
They have finally accused the president of having made an “apology for crime” with the dissemination of a revisionist video last Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice and to reduce funding for education or to fight poverty.
