Javier Milei's exasperation and the agonizing call awaiting Axel Kicillof

There is perhaps one thing that Javier Milei is not allowed to do in the exercise of power. He neither allows it himself nor would those who have been with him most in his daily work since December 10, 2023, view it favorably . Downplaying the seriousness of conflicts, yielding benevolently, or acting with excessive tolerance . His cronies would say: anything but do-goodism . Once, at the beginning of his administration, someone who would later fall into disgrace advised the President that he should not constantly be at the forefront of political conflicts or unnecessary controversies with actors or singers. Milei replied that he should not insinuate anything like that again. " I am the leader of the cultural battle," he told him.

It's becoming clear that the government's style of constant confrontation, with a leader constantly on the verge of a climax, will continue until the end, and perhaps even deepen. The drop in inflation, the lifting of the exchange rate controls, the electoral victory in the City of Buenos Aires, the resignation of the PRO (Progressive Party), and the government's dominance of the public scene are not enough to bring calm to the Casa Rosada.

“We're always thinking about the next fight. It's our food. We came to break the system,” those around him assume. The libertarian leader's personality leads to moderates being punished and the most extreme rewarded. On Friday, Milei received Daniel Parisini—known on social media as Gordo Dan and nicknamed Minister X in the government—and the head of the La Libertad Avanza bloc in the Buenos Aires Chamber of Deputies, Agustín Romo. They analyzed the impact of the libertarian narrative on social media and strategies to amplify it. Milei gave Dan a painting with a photo of herself dancing at Luna Park. Dan proposed doing a new show, with Milei as the singer , when inflation reaches zero.

The president feels comfortable living with tension. If a certain calm appears, he needs to bang his fists on the table to shake things up. He flirts with risks, even those that involve his own allies.

Seven days ago, at the Te Deum at the Metropolitan Cathedral, he left Jorge Macri, the cousin of the leader of the PRO party, with whom the Libertarians intend to reach an agreement in the province of Buenos Aires, hanging. At the same event, he eluded Victoria Villarruel, not even sparing a glance. As the days went by, the confrontation shifted, twice, to Ricardo Darín: he called him "ignorant" and a "crappy operator," simply because the actor allowed himself to share on a television program how much a dozen empanadas cost in his neighborhood.

Milei's support also made controversial inroads with the new Paka Paka programming, which emulates the indoctrination of the Kirchner years, but in the opposite ideological sense. The week closed with strident statements regarding the demands of the doctors at Garrahan Hospital: Milei attributed the wage fight to a move by "Kirchnerist psychopaths" ; in other words, he ignored the necessary salary increases demanded by the workers at one of the most prestigious health centers.

On Friday afternoon, it had been reported that the Executive branch would push for an agreement with the doctors. The information was released through informal channels, although it was the officials themselves who were spreading the word. It was even said that they had made a recording with an important announcement. But, around 9:00 PM, the release of that video was thwarted.

The resident physicians have already mobilized and are organizing a new march for tomorrow that could garner many supporters from various sectors. The pediatric hospital addresses everything from the health of children with cancer to transplants. The Garraham Hospital is deeply rooted in a large part of society, even among those who have never used it. The intensification of the protest and the publicity surrounding the salaries could backfire on the government. Some compare the conflict to the demonstrations in support of public education, which cost the president several months of disapproval.

Milei insists that at Garrahan there are ñoquis and administrative employees "designed" by Kirchnerism. It's possible. But he said nothing about the situation of a good portion of the resident doctors, who work up to 70 hours a week and earn salaries below the poverty line. Kirchnerism, through Cristina, came out to question him, as did Elisa Carrió, who directly targeted Luis Caputo.

Instead, the PRO party remained silent, despite its long-standing stance of distancing itself from events of this nature, leading many leaders who have been in the party since 2003 to wonder: will the yellow party be left without a narrative? Milei not only snubbed Jorge Macri in a childish and impolite manner; the mayor also suffered a snub from his own fellow party members . Not a single tweet was posted expressing solidarity with him.

After the failure it experienced in its stronghold, Macri's party is now prioritizing an alliance on the other side of the General Paz border, waiting for the Libertarians to take a generous stance and open their lists. On Monday, Cristian Ritondo and Diego Santilli attended the Casa Rosada to meet with Karina Milei, Sebastián Pareja, Eduardo, and Martín Menem. " This is the decision-making table," said the sister during the meeting.

The big dilemma is how the coalition will be formed. That is: whether it will be the same for the September 7th contest, when Buenos Aires legislators and councilors are elected, and for the October 23rd contest, when it's the national deputies' turn. Ritondo is fighting, and he told Mauricio Macri so, for the PRO and LLA to merge into a single front in September, without the violet color dominating the ballot and with a name yet to be designated. It could be "Only Freedom." But, close to Santilli and Guillermo Montenegro—who was also in Buenos Aires this week to participate in campaign meetings—they maintain that, as the calendar advances, the Libertarians will refuse a coalition of equals and will push for the PRO to simply join the ruling party's lists. " What front or what front, we have to support," said one of the most committed PRO leaders. The prize? A couple of spots on the lists. That's all.

Milei has reinforced her belief that a defeat by Kirchnerism could impact the economy's direction. In terms of investment, an electoral setback would make things even more difficult and project distrust within the establishment and abroad regarding Milei's continued power after 2027. This is what economists and operators who espouse the libertarian creed tell the President.

The provincial election is shaping up to be extremely polarized, unless Kirchnerism and Peronism ultimately split. Axel Kicillof and Cristina Kirchner remain silent. A few weeks ago, through an intermediary, the governor insisted on speaking with the leader of the Partido Popular (PJ). Cristina responded the same way she had last year: "Tell him he has nothing to talk to me about, that he should contact Máximo ."

Kicillof, grumbling, called him. He found himself face to face with the same old Máximo: it's one thing when they talk one-on-one, where he appears docile and even attentive; and another when he turns around and executes orders to dynamite Axel's plans. The president spoke with Sergio Massa on Thursday and asked him, once again, for help. Massa maintains a balance and, whenever possible, brings fuel to his own fire. Then, the Tigre native spoke with Máximo. The Kirchner son repeats the script from other eras: "We're going to do whatever Cristina says."

Carlos Bianco, Kicillof's right-hand man, said on Radio Con Vos that this time, the time to put together the lists will be different. He asked that La Cámpora and Cristina " give more participation on the lists to the governor's representatives" and that, once voting day has passed, Kicillof's projects be voted on "by a show of hands and without complaint." It was like throwing down a new challenge to Cristina.

"We're agonizingly waiting for an email to see if we'll go together or separately," say Kicillof's entourage. The governor is exasperated by not knowing whether she will be a candidate or not, and, eventually, whether she will run for provincial or national legislator. But he's even more exasperated by something else: knowing that his mentor's decision could be delayed until the very day the lists close .