A Tweet That Sets the Tone
On August 6, 2026, Argentina's Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Federico Sturzenegger, took to Twitter to congratulate San Juan's Governor Marcelo Orrego on the recent changes to the Glacier Law. In his message, Sturzenegger stated that these changes 'today spill prosperity' and criticized those who 'vilified' the reform, adding that 'perhaps there is no awareness that the land law chapter would have allowed the same, but across the whole country.'
The tweet, which went viral in political and mining circles, concludes with a powerful phrase: 'It was about choosing between fear and prosperity.' This statement reflects the national government's stance on relaxing environmental restrictions to boost mining activity, especially in high mountain areas.
What is the Glacier Law?
The Glacier Law (No. 26,639) was enacted in 2010 and establishes a national inventory of glaciers and periglacial environments, prohibiting activities that affect their conservation, such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. The law was championed by environmental organizations and faced strong resistance from mining sectors, who viewed it as a brake on economic development.
In recent years, the government of Javier Milei has pushed for modifications to this law to allow mining projects near glaciers, arguing that absolute protection prevented the exploitation of strategic resources like lithium and copper. San Juan, governed by Orrego, is one of the provinces with the greatest mining potential, hosting projects such as Pascua-Lama and El Pachón.
The Reference to the Land Law
Sturzenegger mentioned the 'land law chapter' as an example of what could have been achieved nationally. He referred to the Land Law (No. 26,737), which limits foreign ownership of rural land. The minister suggested that if a logic similar to the glacier reform had been applied, development could have been promoted across the country, but the choice was between 'fear and prosperity.'
This statement is part of the broader debate on economic deregulation promoted by the government, which seeks to eliminate bureaucratic and environmental barriers to attract investment. Sturzenegger, a former president of the Central Bank and now minister, is one of the main architects of this policy.
Reactions and Context
The tweet drew mixed reactions. While mining and business sectors celebrated the official stance, environmental organizations such as Greenpeace and the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN) warned about the risks of modifying glacier protection, as glaciers are essential freshwater reserves for millions of people.
Governor Orrego, for his part, did not publicly respond to the tweet, but his administration has been one of the most active in promoting mining. San Juan already has operating projects like Veladero and others in exploration.
The reform to the Glacier Law is still under debate in Congress, but the explicit support of a key minister of the Executive reinforces the government's intention to move forward in that direction. Meanwhile, Sturzenegger's phrase has become part of the public discourse: 'choosing between fear and prosperity.'