Pure polarisation in Congress – Milei delivers partisan speech full of insults

President Javier Milei used a primetime televised address to talk up his administration and insult the opposition on Sunday night as the state of national politics was laid bare for all to see.

Argentina’s self-described “anarcho-capitalist” President eschewed all talk of national unity to go on the attack. Regularly heckled by the opposition, Milei opted for a confrontational approach.

Before galleries packed with enthusiastic supporters – who cheered, clapped and chanted every attack line – Milei repeatedly insulted his rivals, branding them “ignorant” and “criminals” and "parasites" who had led the nation into disaster.

The head of state attempted to recount his achievements in office and gave a hint of what was to come. But he was unable to stop himself from reacting to the cries of the opposition, with Congress descending into farcical scenes. 

While far from an outline of Argentina’s past, present and future, it was most certainly a spectacle.

Prior to his arrival at Congress, the Legislative Assembly was calm. But the moment Milei stepped onto a raised platform to access the lectern, it all kicked off.

The heckles from the opposition – some of whom boycotted the event and did not even turn up – were not long in coming. Milei immediately reacted, saying he was “your President … whether you like it or not.”

As opposition lawmakers protested at what they perceived as mockery, the president doubled down: “You can’t applaud because your hands stray into other people’s pockets.”

When Peronist lawmakers reproached him for having ignored “social justice,” Milei exploded and shouted back that Peronism has its own leader in prison.

“Bunch of criminal thieves – that’s why yours is behind bars,” he roared, referring to ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. 

The deputies reminded him of corruption allegations involving the government, which Milei dismissed as “dirty tricks.”

“Keep lying, you bunch of thieves, you bunch of crooks!” he charged again, adding that Fernández de Kirchner “will remain in prison” because “she’s a thief – one of the biggest in history.”

“Ankle tag, ankle tag!” chanted Milei supporters in the galleries as the frenzy continued.

On several occasions, opposition lawmakers questioned the accuracy of the figures Milei cited regarding the performance of the economy.

“You’re allergic to data,” he fired back, telling his rivals to “go and read the numbers and the balance sheets.”

“Kukas, I love seeing you cry – and most people love seeing you cry too,” he declared, continuing the humiliation.

Argentina’s left-wing lawmakers were also subjected to mockery, with Milei picking out deputies Myriam Bregman and Nicolás del Caño for believing themselves to be “the representative of workers when they can’t even muster more than five percent of the vote.”

Towards the end of his speech – after spending much of it insulting his rivals – the 55-year-old head of state said it was time for Argentina to become "a mature nation."

Milei’s communication style often makes waves and is part of his style. A recent report by the FOPEA press watchdog found that roughly one in every seven of his posts on the social network X contains offensive or insulting language, with around 15 percent of his messages including slurs or pejorative terms aimed at opponents, journalists and institutions. 

The President regularly uses pejorative terms – such as “kuka,” “casta,” “mandril,” “degenerado” and “terrorista” – in his posts and interviews. 

This pattern extends beyond social media into his public speeches and media engagements. Critics have documented more than 1,000 disparaging remarks directed at political rivals, journalists and economists since he assumed the Presidency

Such language has included animalisation and dehumanising characterisations.

– TIMES/NA