09/07/2026 15:04 - Politica
On July 9, 2026, President Javier Milei led the central ceremonies for the 210th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from the Historic House of San Miguel de Tucumán. For international context, Tucumán is the northern Argentine province where independence from the Spanish Empire was officially declared in 1816, making it the symbolic capital of the country for this day. During his nationally broadcasted speech, Milei made various claims about the economic and social situation, which were subsequently analyzed by Chequeado, Argentina's premier independent fact-checking organization.
According to Chequeado's verification, Milei claimed to have reduced poverty to 27 or 28%. This was rated as TRUE, as data from INDEC (the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina) for the second half of 2025 shows a poverty rate of 28.2%. Regarding the fiscal deficit, he assured he reduced it from 15 points of GDP to 0; this was considered DISPUTED due to methodological differences regarding whether or not to include the Central Bank in the calculation. The claim that the country has had more than 2 years of fiscal surplus was rated as TRUE, as was his declaration about getting the country out of debt, although the latter comes with the caveat that foreign debt actually increased by 7% up to March 2026.
However, his claim that street protests known locally as piquetes (roadblocks) went from 9,000 per year to 0 was considered FALSE, as 3,893 roadblocks were registered in 2025 according to the consultancy Diálogo Político. It was also rated as EXAGGERATED when he stated that the country risk premium (a measure of the risk of defaulting on sovereign debt) went from levels of 3000 to nearly 400, considering it was at 1,923 points when he took office.
Later, Milei participated in the traditional Te Deum at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, presided over by Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva. In his homily, Cuerva quoted Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi to ask for unity among Argentines and mentioned the caves of corruption that make the poor increasingly poorer. Following the ceremony, the president moved to the Casa Rosada (the seat of the national government) to lead a Cabinet meeting focused on the draft law for the reform of the Central Bank (BCRA).
La Libertad Avanza congresswoman Lilia Lemoine criticized Cuerva's speech, calling it hypocritical and boring. Meanwhile, the United States government, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, greeted Argentina and called it an indispensable partner.
The governor of Tucumán, Osvaldo Jaldo, who hosted the event, highlighted that the government needs the provinces, and the provinces need the government, celebrating the presence of 13 provincial governors. Vice President Victoria Villarruel, who accompanied the ceremonies in Tucumán, emphasized the need for real federalism and hinted at a possible candidacy in 2027 by saying she would like to serve Argentines with decency.
The governor of Santiago del Estero, Elías Suárez, demanded national assistance for the provinces. Meanwhile, Martín Llaryora (governor of Córdoba) asked to turn on the engine of the domestic economy, and Maximiliano Pullaro (governor of Santa Fe) vindicated the struggle for federalism. From the opposition, congressman Nicolás del Caño (Left Front) accused the government of deepening the surrender and plundering of the country.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
