The newly elected president of Argentina, Javier Milei, used the social network X to tell the public that the government is moving to add Hamas, the Palestinian group, to the list of terrorist organizations. The exchange began when a user suggested that Argentinians of Jewish faith would welcome Hamas being labeled a terrorist entity. Milei answered, We’re working on it. This moment highlights the administration’s ongoing effort to define its approach to regional security and to reassure both domestic and international audiences about Argentina’s dedication to counterterrorism.
Earlier in Milei’s tenure, the administration launched a sweeping civil service reform plan. In this effort, roughly 23,000 civil servants were dismissed, signaling a shift toward stronger cost control and administrative overhaul. The layoffs represented one of the quickest and most visible changes to the state apparatus since the transition, eliciting a broad spectrum of responses from labor unions, business associations, and political commentators.
On the evening of December 20, Milei announced that a decree had established a state of emergency. The president outlined thirty central reforms aimed at reshaping the country’s economic and regulatory environment. Key elements included the lifting of price controls in certain sectors, changes to customs procedures designed to streamline international trade, preparations for privatizing state-owned enterprises, and veto provisions to prevent new export bans. Collectively, the package signals a shift toward market-oriented policies intended to boost competitiveness, attract investment, and stabilize macroeconomic indicators as part of a broader governance strategy.
Milei’s rise is widely seen as part of a larger political realignment in which networked political actors challenged traditional power structures. Observers note that his ascent underscores the influence of social media-driven movements and rapid, decentralized organization in Argentina’s modern politics. While supporters view the leadership as decisive and reform-minded, critics warn about potential social and economic costs of rapid organizational overhauls and the implications for civil liberties during a state of emergency.