RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Argentine Javier Milei, Brazilian Eduardo Bolsonaro, and Chilean José Antonio Kast shared the same stage in Brazil. They are representatives of some liberal and, at the same time, conservative positions in their countries and met for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in São Paulo. And to speak of “confrontation with socialism.”
The meeting was organized by the Conservative-Liberal Institute, the think tank of Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, one of the sons of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has expressed his sympathy for Milei on several occasions.
The congressman is active on social media, where he has targeted Kirchnerism in Argentina more than once. He has gained notoriety in Latin American countries.
CHILE
Also conservative-patriotic, Kast was one of the surprises of the last presidential election in Chile, where he managed to win the first national race before being defeated by Gabriel Boric.
Kast experienced a meteoric rise in recent years after being a member of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) for two decades. Still, his perceived Pinochetism got him into trouble in the campaign’s final stages.
The fight against socialism was one of the main themes of the event. “We must understand that socialism is not an honest opponent but the enemy. Not understanding that means adopting lukewarm positions that lead to larger and larger doses of socialism until they lead to the dictatorship of the left,” Milei said.
“Latin America is in danger! Viva la Libertad, carajo!” the Chilean leader said on his social media.
ARGENTINA
According to La Libertad Avanza, Milei answered questions at the forum about fuel shortages and restrictions on meat exports, among other issues. “The shortage is the result of government regulations and the constant evolution of property law,” he replied.
He said the export ban on meat cuts “Is an expression of a lack of understanding of the monetary nature of inflation, which leads to the assumption that inflation is fought with price controls. Since food makes up one-third of the index, they prohibit exports from increasing domestic supply and thus lower prices.
“It is immoral because it restricts your freedom to spend the fruits of your labor on what you want,” he added, referring to capital controls. “Since the peso is not a store of value, it also affects your future consumption. At the same time, it increases the demand for money by increasing the tax base for inflationary taxes.”
“And it creates excess demand in the foreign exchange market, which dwindles reserves, blocks capital inflows, and results in excess supply throughout the economy. This leads to higher interest rates, less activity, less investment, fewer jobs, lower real wages, more poor and needy people, and thus more public spending, emissions, and controls. This becomes a decadent vicious cycle.”
The event was held in Campinas, São Paulo. It was inspired by the conference that has been held in the United States since the 1970s.
The original CPAC was founded in 1973 by the American Conservative Union and Young Americans for Freedom. It is the most prominent conservative event in the United States.
For the full picture, see our Brazil Tax Reform: Complete Guide.