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The assembly of the Christmas tree: a political analogy

On December 8, as every year, millions of Argentinians set out to assemble their Christmas tree, a tradition that, at first glance, has nothing to do with politics. But what if I told you that in assembling that tree, a perfect analogy can be found with what is happening in Argentine politics these days? We hang the decorations, one by one, and each has its own meaning. Just like the ornaments that decorate a tree, Javier Milei's government faces challenges, some shinier than others, but all with the same goal: to reach the star.

The base of the tree: inflation and devaluation

The first thing we assemble is the base, that trunk that supports everything else. In the case of Argentina, the base of this tree is nothing other than inflation. During the first half of 2024, inflation showed a notable slowdown compared to the peaks of 2023. The promise of controlling inflation was hung, and although it is not completely resolved, it has been alleviated (although it may not be so noticeable in the people's pockets), like that first ornament that is barely hung but starts to shape the tree. Similarly, the devaluation of the peso, announced at the end of 2023, was integrated as a "heavy ornament" in the economic structure of Argentina, but it remains the pillar on which, with great difficulty, the rest of the tree is constructed.

The lights: economic growth and foreign trade

As we start decorating the tree, there must be lights that make it shine, as a symbol of growth and hope. In this case, the lights of the tree represent the rebound in economic activity, driven by sectors such as agriculture and mining, along with the trade surplus achieved throughout 2024. These lights, although modest in their initial lighting, begin to add color to a gloomy panorama. Like any Christmas tree, growth has to do with the small sparks that are interspersed in the darkness, and although the rebound is uneven, there are lights that continue to ignite a hope for improvement.

The golden ornaments: the reduction of country risk and the fiscal surplus

Now that the tree begins to take shape, the golden ornaments are hung, those that shine and reflect the promise of a better future. In Argentine politics, these shiny ornaments are the fiscal surplus and the reduction of country risk. Unlike other years, the government managed to maintain a primary surplus, a kind of star that illuminates the political tree with signs of financial stability. Like those ornaments that seem perfect, but never quite settle, the Argentine economy shows lights and shadows, but at least, the tree is not fallen.

The red balls: poverty and unemployment

However, like any Christmas tree, not everything is lights and shiny ornaments. There are also red balls, those that represent the toughest challenges and the areas in which the tree needs more work. In this case, the red balls are poverty and unemployment, which continue to loom over the structure of the Argentine economy. Unemployment and poverty have risen in the last year, marking a painful contrast with macroeconomic achievements. They are those parts of the tree that, despite the overall beauty, still do not fit quite well.

The star: a promise of the future or an illusion?

Finally, we arrive at the star, the symbol of what has been achieved and what is desired. In the case of this tree, the star is associated with Javier Milei's promises for the future of the nation. Will this star be the one to consolidate everything achieved? Or will it remain an illusion like the star that, no matter how much it is hung, never shines quite enough? The first year of his management has been a roller coaster of economic and social challenges, but like any Christmas tree, it is a symbol of what has been achieved and what still needs to be done.

Assembling the tree with Doubt

While some ornaments shine and others fall, the tree remains standing due to the hope and expectations of a society that longs for more lights than shadows. As a society, we continue to hang those ornaments in hopes that, one day, the star at the end of the tree will shine with the promise of a strong country, without structural problems, such as poverty or unemployment, remaining the ornaments that do not fit into the overall structure. But in the end, what matters is that we continue to build, decorate, and hope.