President Javier Milei took center stage at the Council of the Americas in Buenos Aires, linking the country's low birth rate to legal abortion, dismissing 'can't make ends meet' complaints as a repated absurdity, and defending his economic record as a complete turnaround. Here's the full breakdown.

A Presidential Lecture on Economy and Family

Speaking on Thursday, August 20 at the historic Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires, President Javier Milei delivered a powerful, near-hour-long keynote address to close the Council of the Americas forum. The speech was a broad narrative covering his government's economic wins, a direct attack on political opponents, and a strikingly blunt opinion on Argentine social policy.

'We are paying very dearly for the madness of the little green handkerchiefs,' Milei stated, using the iconic symbol that has defined Argentina's campaign for legal abortion. He directly linked the country's legalization of abortion with a worrying drop in the national birth rate.

Context of the 'Green Handkerchiefs'

The green handkerchief (pañuelo verde) is a well-known symbol of the feminist movement in Argentina. It was prominent during the civic campaigns preceding the approval of Law 27.610 (Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy) in December 2020. This law permits elective abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy. Before this, legal abortion was very limited. Data from the country's statistics agency indicates that the birth rate has been declining since 2014.

Milei added: 'Today, Argentina is not reaching a population growth rate, a birth rate that allows for replacement. That passion for killing children in the mother's womb also costs us dearly in terms of economic growth, and I will not even get into the cost for the pension system.'

But is the link accurate? Experts and organizations, including Chequeado (a fact-checking outlet), have stated there is no evidence to support this. The World Bank reports a global decline in birth rates for over a decade. Specialists say the trend is multicausal: increased female participation in the workforce, better access to contraceptives, economic instability, and changes in life plans are all important factors, according to María de las Nieves Puglia from the Gender program at Fundar.

A survey by the UNFPA (UN's sexual and reproductive health agency) in Argentina suggests that 57% of people aged 18 to 45 would like to have more children but do not due to economic and job stability concerns. Mariana Isasi, UNFPA's chief in Argentina, highlights the country's fertility rate is at 1.2 children per woman, pointing to economic pressure as a main driver.

Calling Out 'Stupidity' on Economic Recoverance

During his long 58-minute speech, President Milei also touched on what he considers 'nonsense' from his critics. He used the authority of the famous Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges to dismiss arguments that technological progress destroys jobs, emphasizing that if that were true, unemployment should be 90%. He also said the story about citizens unable to make ends meet are just 'repetition of stupidity.'

Milei declared the current unemployment rate at 7.8%, defending his economic model and commercial opening policies. 'The Argentine economy is a jail,' he claimed, that needs global integration to breathe.

Key Indicators: Inflation From Received to Delivered

In his own tracking of his achievements, the President pointed out a dramatic reduction in inflation and a stabilization of key economic indicators. He compared his term with previous administrations.

Year-over-Year Inflation: What they got vs. What they handed over
  • Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: Received 8.5% and handed over 26.9%.
  • Mauricio Macri: Received 26.9% and handed over 53.8%.
  • Alberto Fernández: Received 53.8% and handed over 211%.

Regarding his current term, he celebrated the major decline in wholesale inflation, which he said fell from 54% in December 2023 to 0.8% in July 2026. He promised to fulfill a campaign promise to give a rock concert with his band if the consumer price index starts with a zero. He also highlighted that the economy grew by 6% in 2024 and 4% in 2025, and he claims that over 14 million people have been lifted out of poverty. 'The snapshot is still horrible, but the movie is the best in Argentine history,' he concluded.

A Shield for His Minister and a Jab at the Media

President Milei also took time to defend his key deregulation minister, Federico Sturzenegger. 'When you see a piece of garbage criticizing Federico, it is because he is touching a piece of business,' he said, referring to the unpopularity that comes with government attempts to break up corporatism.

He also used the moment to criticize journalists and the press regarding the abortion law debate. He referenced his previous conflict with Débora Plager, a journalist for LN+, whom he had called an 'accomplice to murder' months before for defending the law, echoing the same theme during this occasion.

This event is significant as it shows the President's ongoing policy focus on economic liberalization, while his statements set the tone for a polarized political discourse.

Sources and references for this article: La Nación, Infobae, Urgente24 y La Voz.