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Milei Escalates Clash With Business Elite, Names Paolo Rocca in Congress Speech

He framed the confrontation as a mandate to purge corruption through sweeping market reforms.

Overview

  • In his address opening the legislative year, President Javier Milei accused so‑called prebendary business leaders and corrupt politicians of collusion over privileges.
  • He singled out Techint’s Paolo Rocca, alleging steel tubing was billed at about USD 4,000 per ton versus a USD 1,400 benchmark and claiming threats to advance dividend payments to strain the FX market.
  • He pointed to the closure of tire-maker FATE, saying consumers were forced to pay three to four times more for tires as 920 jobs were put at risk during protection talks tied to the aluminum sector.
  • He defended his stabilization drive, said the fiscal deficit was cut by five points upon taking office, praised Economy Minister Luis Caputo, and touted a newly passed labor reform as modernizing workplace rules.
  • He attacked the Peronist opposition, labeling its leaders corrupt and asserting that former president Cristina Kirchner remains jailed in several cases.