Argentine candidates debated the economy and human rights | News

The candidates for the presidency of Argentina, Sergio Massa of Unión por la Patria, Javier Milei (La Libertad Avanza), Patricia Bullrich (Together for Change), Myriam Bregman (Frente de Izquierda) and Juan Schiaretti (We do for Our Country) celebrated on Sunday the first mandatory debate ahead of the elections on October 22.

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The debate between the five candidates for the presidency of the South American country revolved around the economy, education and human rights, issues in which the far-right Javier Milei stands out for his controversial positions.

Throughout the debate, the official candidate Sergio Massa received attacks from the rest of the candidates, blaming him for the economic situation that Argentina is going through.

Economic Proposals

In economic matters, the candidate for Unión por la Patria assured that he will promote a money laundering law, so that funds deposited abroad can be returned without paying taxes, along with an export development plan.

He also promised to modify the penal system to establish "prison for evaders and those who escape" and will seek to reduce taxes for "SMEs and regional economies."

In his speech, Sergio Massa recognized that inflation is the worst problem for Argentines and apologized for the errors of Alberto Férnandez's government that hurt the people.

For his part, the far-right Javier Milei stated that if he becomes president of Argentina, he will reform the State, deregulate the economy, privatize public companies and close the Central Bank.

The candidate for Together for Change, the right-wing Patricia Bullrich, only mentioned that she will promote economic order and fiscal balance.

The candidate Juan Schiaretti claimed to be able to implement the same "fiscal balance" achieved in the province of Córdoba and resolve inflation.

Human rights

When asked about Human Rights, the far-right from La Libertad Avanza questioned that the dictatorship has caused 30,000 disappearances, as human rights defense organizations claim.

"There were not 30,000 missing, there were 8,753. We are against a one-eyed vision of history," said Javier Milei.

The far-rightist's claims were responded to by President Alberto Fernández through his social networks.

For her part, candidate Patricia Bullrich compared herself to former presidents Nelson Mandela (South Africa) and José Mujica (Uruguay), when she said that, like them, she was "part of a youth organization", alluding to her participation in the JP linked to Montoneros.

Bullrich vindicated the "dead of the dictatorship, both civilian and military", defended the security forces and accused the unions of being responsible for the fact that democratic coexistence is "broken" in Argentina.

The first of the two mandatory debates established by the National Electoral Chamber (CNE) was held in the city of Santiago del Estero, in the north of the country.

The second debate will take place on October 8 at the Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).

If a second electoral round is held, a third debate will be scheduled for November 12.