Argentine president shuts down largest public news agency For spreading “propaganda”

The Telegraph has published an article saying the Argentine leader warns Congress in fiery speech that he will pass controversial reforms ‘with or without’ the support of lawmakers. Caliber.Az reprints the article.

Argentina’s president vowed to shut down the country’s largest public news service for spreading “propaganda” in a fiery speech to Congress.

Setting out his legislative ambitions for his first term, Javier Milei pledged to “speed up” his plans to overhaul the country and solve its economic crisis.

The controversial leader took office in December with a promise to take a “chainsaw” to the country’s status quo and he has previously referred to Congress as a “nest of rats”.

The speech underscored Mr Milei’s determination to push ahead with divisive economic reforms and austerity measures that have boosted markets but have sparked protests, including outside of Congress on Friday, and pushback among lawmakers.

Mr Milei announced to the chamber that he plans to shut down the public service Télam, the largest and most prestigious news agency in Argentina, as part of a wave of reforms targeting public bodies that he has accused of being “a covert propaganda ministry”.

“We will close the news agency Télam, which has been used as a Kirchnerist propaganda agency for the last decades,” Mr Milei told lawmakers, referring to former president Cristina Kirchner.

Last week he announced the closure of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, which he branded the “thought police” and on Thursday he banned the use of “Marxist” gender-neutral language in government documents.

In his first interview after being elected, Mr Milei pledged to shutter Argentina’s public media, whom he has accused of encouraging Leftist political activism.

The 53-year-old had sought to privatise Télam as part of his “omnibus” package that was blocked in Congress last month.

Télam, which provides news and photographs to media outlets in Argentina, confirmed the closure on its website minutes after Mr Milei’s announcement.

Analysts have warned that many small news outlets rely on Télam for trustworthy information and news-gathering. The agency, which runs as a state-owned limited company, was set up in 1945 by President Juan Perón, then the labour secretary.

We won’t back down, says president

Mr Milei struck an aggressive tone as he addressed lawmakers in a state-of-the-union style address on Friday, challenging them to pass a new package of bills after the failure of his “omnibus” reforms that had last month provoked violent protests in the capital, Buenos Aires.

“We won’t back down, we’re going to keep pushing forward,” Mr Milei said. “Whether that’s by law, presidential decree or by modifying regulations.”

Mr Milei’s proposals include slashing government spending on politicians, including benefits such as private jets.

He would also cut federally-provided perks for politicians convicted of corruption a second time, he said.

Mr Milei has frequently clashed with those he regards as the political elite and paints them as the “caste” who enjoy excessive job perks.