Just after taking office, the “honeymoon” between the president Javier Milei and the Argentines are already showing signs of wear. The main factor is the economic situation, with a strong loss of purchasing power, since half say that they do not make ends meet with their salary, and the low expectations that the scenario will improve in at least the next 2 years. Furthermore, the majority believes that the adjustment fell primarily on the middle and lower classes, and that “the caste”In the end, he did not suffer it.
This is reflected in the latest surveys circulating these days, which analyze the image and approval of the Milei government, and the impact that the signing of the Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) and the so-called omnibus lawwhich aim at the deregulation of the economy with a special focus on the liberalization of prices and fewer controls.
The increase in prices is the main concern of Argentines, a situation that worsened after inflation exceeded 25% in the first month of the new Government.. According to the responses collected by the consulting firm Poliarquía, more than half of those surveyed claim that they do not make ends meet, and another 41% say that they do so “just enough.” Only 9% say they can save.
Likewise, another study by the consulting firm Analogies maintains that more Argentines believe that their economic situation will be worse in the next two years. In fact, more than 46% assume that joint ventures will not be able to compensate for this year’s inflation.
Salary fall in the Milei era
As proof of this, a report prepared by the Research and Training Center of the Argentine Republic of the Central Workers of Argentina (CTA) indicates that since December, salaries have lost more than 20% of purchasing power in one month.
The report indicates that “the minimum wage does not escape these trends, which worsens the low real value it has had in recent years.” It details that, during the government of Mauricio Macri, it lost 25% of its purchasing power and to this was added an additional drop of 10% during the year with the greatest impact of the pandemic, which was later not recovered.
Last December, after the sharp increase in prices, the minimum wage was reduced in real terms by 14.8% in a single month. It thus remained at a value that is 25.9% lower than that of December 2019 and 42.9% lower than that of the same month of 2015.
Meanwhile, the first measures of the new Government are perceived as having an impact on the middle and lower classes, and only 3 out of 10 believe that the adjustment affected “the caste.” There is an overwhelming majority that sees the initial steps of Milei management as a direction to benefit companies, according to the Analogies survey. However, opinions on who is truly responsible for inflation are divided half and half between the current government and that of Alberto Fernández.
Other questions from that same survey show that many of the decisions with which we want to move forward do not have majority support from citizens. For example, there is opposition to cutting funds to education, science, public works and the modifications to labor reform. Furthermore, more than 60% disagree with issues such as food and energy prices being paid at international prices in dollars. And 6 out of 10 oppose dollarizing the economy.
The negative image grows and the approval of Javier Milei drops
The economic consequences are also eroding the President’s image. Poliarquia measurements show that approval fell 9 points in January to 58%. Still, anyway, it’s high. But in light of more impacts on the pocketbook to come, that number could continue to worsen. The negative image went from 28% to 39%. Although “significant but not extraordinary,” the consulting firm analyzes that Milei pierced the 60% line in a few weeks, while in the cases of predecessors such as Cristina Kirchner (in two periods), Mauricio Macri and Alberto Fernández took 3, 4, 6 and 12 months, respectively.
Support for Milei fell significantly in the lower classes, with a -19, a sector that was key in his victory. In greater Buenos Aires there is now more disapproval than support. Inside it is still above 60%.
However, there are still 58% who believe that the current Government can solve the country’s problems, but that it still requires more time. Although that number is falling.
When asked about the DNU and the omnibus law, approval in neither case reaches 40%. Only a third consider that the measures included in these regulations are for the benefit of society as a whole.
Source: Ambito
