Argentine President Milei 'Self-Increases' Salary
January 6.24 Million KRW → February 9.23 Million KRW, 48% Surge
"Blames Predecessor" but Signature Revealed
Salary Increase Occurred Amid Tightening Policies
Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, who has been implementing strong austerity measures since taking office, has sparked controversy after it was revealed that he 'self-increased' his own salary. On the 10th (local time), the Argentine daily newspaper La Naci?n reported, "President Milei received 6.02 million pesos (approximately 9.23 million KRW after tax) as his February salary under the 'Presidential Decree on Salaries of Senior Executive Officials' that he signed last month." This amount is a 48% jump compared to 4.06 million pesos (about 6.24 million KRW) in January.
According to the Argentine Official Gazette and others, on the 29th of last month, President Milei signed a presidential decree raising the salaries of himself and other senior executive officials by about 48%. Recently, public dissatisfaction has been rising in Argentina following news that lawmakers' salaries increased by 30% compared to the previous year. President Milei had strongly criticized the legislature's move and expressed great anger. He even ordered the nullification of the increase, saying, "It is inappropriate while the people are suffering."
However, criticism has surged as it was revealed that cabinet members' salaries were raised to an even higher level. Victoria Tolosa Paz, a left-wing member of the Chamber of Deputies, criticized via her social media, "Along with the bill to nullify the lawmakers' salary increase, we will soon submit a bill to nullify the salary increase for senior executive officials as well," adding, "President Milei is lying to us while claiming austerity."
President Milei Blames 'Predecessors'
In response, President Milei targeted his predecessors. He claimed that the increase was automatically applied under a presidential decree signed by former President Cristina Fern?ndez in 2010, and that he was unaware of it. He also stated, "I will immediately repeal the relevant presidential decree." However, the decree published in the Official Gazette bears the signatures of President Milei himself, Chief of Staff Nicol?s Posse, and Minister of Human Resources Sandra Petovello, fueling further controversy.
Former President Cristina Fern?ndez pointed out, "Does President Milei not read the presidential decrees he signs? He signed the decree, received the salary, and must admit that people have found out." Former President Alberto Fern?ndez also criticized, "In 2020, during the pandemic, the salaries of senior officials were excluded from the automatic salary increases for public servants." In response to these criticisms, the presidential office stated, "The salary increases for the president and senior executive officials have become null and void with the repeal of the presidential decree signed by former President Cristina Fern?ndez."
In December of last year, a market protest selling groceries at prices lower than the market rate was held in front of the Argentine Congress to protest the economic policies of the Milei government. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Ongoing Controversy on Social Media
On social media, President Milei is being heavily criticized. Comments such as "Does the president not remember the decree he signed, or did he sign it without reading?" and "While claiming there is no money and barely raising salaries for teachers, public servants, doctors, and retirees, he increased his own salary by 48% at once" have been circulating. Some have also raised suspicions that the government deliberately hid the decree after it suddenly became inaccessible on the government's online system.
Nicknamed the 'Trump of South America,' President Milei has been implementing drastic policies since his inauguration in December last year to overcome economic difficulties caused by hyperinflation, including a 54% devaluation of the local currency, the peso. As a result, the cumulative inflation rate soared to about 65% within three months of his inauguration, and the poverty rate reached 57.6% in January, marking the worst level in 20 years.
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