08/07/2026 06:32 - Politica
Just minutes after the thrilling qualification of the Argentine National Team to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup on July 7, 2026, the General Secretary of ATE, Rodolfo Aguiar, used his social media to request a national holiday from President Javier Milei.
For international readers, ATE (Asociacion de Trabajadores del Estado) is the largest union of public administration workers in Argentina. Aguiar publicly suggested that the President should declare a national holiday, arguing that other countries have done so, and that the workers and the people deserve it after the team's incredible effort.
The message immediately sparked debate. While the qualification was celebrated with massive street parties across the country, Argentina is still in the quarter-finals, three matches away from a potential championship.
The union's request comes amid the euphoria of the recent match. Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 at the Atlanta Stadium in Buenos Aires. The team miraculously came back from a 2-0 deficit.
The winning goals were scored by Cristian Romero (79'), Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernandez (92'), after Yasser Ibrahim and Ziko had given the African team the lead. Although Messi missed a penalty, the resilience of the squad led by coach Lionel Scaloni prevailed.
The next challenge for the squad, affectionately known as La Scaloneta, will be on Saturday, July 11, 2026, against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
The union's demand appears in a context where the closest historical precedent does not align with the initiative. After winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the national government declared an exceptional holiday for December 20, 2022, to facilitate the massive celebrations and the reception of the champion squad.
However, that measure was taken only after the World Cup was secured, not during the tournament. On December 19, 2022, there was no national holiday, and only a few provinces granted administrative leave for their public workers prior to the final.
President Javier Milei, a libertarian leader known for his strong economic austerity measures, celebrated the victory on his social networks with an emphatic and enthusiastic message.
In parallel to the sports celebrations, the President advanced that his government is working on a shutdown project. This is a concept similar to the one used in the United States, where if the planned budget is exhausted, the public administration stops operating.
The request from ATE also takes place within the framework of the strong confrontation that the union maintains with the Milei administration regarding state spending cuts, layoffs, and salary policies. The union has leveraged the massive impact of the Argentine classification to challenge the President once again, keeping the hope alive for public workers across the nation.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
