It is known that presidential words have weight. Some move, others guide, a few inspire. But there is a more recent category, cultivated with care by the current head of state; The word that disorient, overact, and on top of doing so. The speech of Javier Milei against businessmen on April 30 It was not, as could be expected from an economist as a presidential function, an exhibition of results or a road map. It was rather an enthusiastic monologue, dotted with loose figures, zoological allegories, and the memorable expression “They have it inside”that perhaps is in memories as the most visceral contribution to the Argentine economic debate of the 21st century.
The president incurred various logical fallacies and statistical manipulations that deserve a critical analysis from an academic perspective. Next, a few of the many inconsistencies and errors in their statements stand out. In that performance, Milei introduced himself as A kind of illuminated preacher -Mmitad Hayek, half stand-up-convinced of having domesticated inflation, tamed the deficit and humiliated to “the caste” with a warehouse accounting. If one ignores for a moment the social context -caid of consumption, productive paralysis, closure of companies, companies that leave the country, growing conflict -could even be carried away by the epic cadence of its story. But the problem is not enthusiasm, but truthfulness.
This article is proposed just that; take away the technical mask from what are nothing more than “Logic fallacies” -The same as, in the mouth of a first year student of the economy, they would be corrected with red ink. Among them, we will address the composition fallacy (when something is inferred at all from one part) and the Holding generalization (When trends are projected from scarce or isolated data). We will analyze them without stridency, but precisely, not for the mood of controversy but by democratic necessity. If the language of ideas is contaminated with propaganda, what deteriorates is not only the economic debate, but the collective intelligence of a nation.
The growing growth … but not so much
Milei said: “The last data gave 5.7%year -on -year, the de -stationalized 0.8%, that annualized that we have been traveling at a speed of 10%”. This statement is a classic example of Fallacies, both composition and hurried generalization: Extrapola the punctual behavior of a variable (for example, a month of recovery) to the whole of the year 2025.
The president omitted that, according to INDEC, the GDP fell (-1.8%) in 2024 and that the economic activity contracted several consecutive quarters. Celebrating a punctual rebound as if it were a structural trend is how to assume that a serious patient was healed because at this time he has less fever than until one hour before.
The inflation that was traveling to 17,000%
One of Milei’s most reckless statements was that inflation “was traveling at a speed of 17,000%.” The figure arises from a simple annualization of the inflation of December 2023, which incurs the Fallacy of hurried generalization and also omits that the Milei himself was president 21 of the 31 day of December, causing an IPC detonation from 12% in November to 25% in December (more than double). If we applied the same logic, and if one day it does not rain, we could declare the end of rainfall in the Pampas region. You cannot build international credibility or economic policy with school arithmetic, which is why JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley warned that as it is known, they want to help.
Apocryphal quotes: from Cicero to Caputo?
In another memorable passage remember, Milei cited an alleged phrase from Cicero on the fiscal deficit, which was actually written by an American novelist in the 60s.
Presenting a false appointment as a doctrinal pillar refers to a deep epistemological problem; the lack of distinction between rhetorical authority and empirical evidence. In a modern democracy, presidents should not govern with historical memes.
The liberals and the 10 million poor people who disappeared
Milei also said that “the liberals brought 10 million Argentines out of poverty.” Without a verifiable source or a homogeneous statistical series that supports it, this statement is a mixture of ideological nostalgia and “Wishful Thinking” (delusions). Even more when in parallel the CGT, retired, and workers yesterday filled the streets protesting the deterioration of purchasing power, while they were repressed by security forces. If that was the release, the beneficiaries did not find out.
Debt, solvency and another happy world
In another of his statements, the President said that the fiscal balance will allow the country to be solvent intertemporarily, recover investment grade and access volunteer markets again. However, the country risk remains above 700 points (725 BP) and the government has just requested a new loan for $ 15,000 million from the “Last instance lender” (IMF). Here appears a structural contradiction; If there is no deficit, why did the country borrow at US $ 94,000 million in 15 months and added another $ 12,000 million with the IMF? The explanation seems not to be in the economic foundations, but in the will to maintain the successful narrative.
Let’s memory of the Luis Caputo doctrine: “You can grow up with stocks”
To this rhetoric is regularly added Minister Luis Caputo, who declared before now: “It is false that it cannot be growing with stock.” The funny thing is that this statement contradicted years of libertarian preaching of Milei, in which the stock was “an aberration.” What were we? Was the stock part of the new freedom? Or is it that the economic plan was sustained and still supported by the instruments that was promised yesterday?
The analysis of President Javier Milei’s claims reveals multiple inconsistencies, “Logic fallacies” and use of inappropriate language. It is essential that political leaders maintain a speech based on verifiable data, logical coherence and respect for democratic debate. The use of fallacies and misinformation not only distorts economic reality, but also undermines public confidence in institutions and in informed decision making.
The economy is not a monologue, nor a religion, nor a stand-up square. It is a complex social science, which requires democratic evidence, consistency and dialogue. The systematic use of tangles, data outside context and personal disqualifications by President Javier Milei not only impoverishes the public debate, but also weakens institutional quality.
Oscar Wilde said that “seriousness is the refuge of superficial.” In the case of Milei and his Minister Caputo, it should be added that technical solemnity is sometimes the disguise of delirium. Because what is presented as a precision economy is, in fact, a statistical simulation theater where the truth is just a secondary character. While extrapolated annual percentages are agitated from a week, or surpluses are celebrated without counting the interests of the debt, the concrete reality – the salaries, the prices, the companies that close – continue its course, immune to the eschatological metaphors.
The official rhetoric is supported as a castle of cards; Each statement supports the next with the fragility of poorly read data. It is recited that the economy “flies” or “rises as a fart of diver”, without blushing by the conceptual destitution of the metaphor or by the absence of indicators that support it. Cicero is cited … that he never said what is attributed to him. The return to the markets is announced, while praying for financing with the hat in the hand. And when reality contradicts the script, insult is used: “Econochantas”, “mandriles”, “Keynesian donkeys.” Thus, the economy becomes show, and the government, in ventriloquist of itself.
But the most worrying thing is not what is said, but who is told. Because much of the auditorium, confused by a technical varnish and a brakeless verbiage, believes to be before a liberal revolution, when in reality it attends a tragicomedy without macroeconomic consistency or lasting political base. Revealing these artifice is not just an academic duty; It is a civic hygiene act. And if this article manages to run the veil of the story a bit, then it will not have been in vain.
*The author is director of Esperanza Foundation, postgraduate professor at UBA and private universities, Master in International Economic Policy, Doctor of Political Science, author of six books.
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
