President Javier Milei unveiled the 2026 Budget, highlighting fiscal balance, prioritizing human capital, and urging political unity to safeguard Argentina’s fragile economy.
President Javier Milei delivered a national address to present the 2026 Budget, which will be sent to Congress before the end of the legislative year.
Speaking from the White Hall of the Casa Rosada, Milei stressed that fiscal balance is the guiding principle of his administration and directed his message toward politics, society, and the private sector.
“If we fail to maintain fiscal order, we will fall back into uncontrolled inflation and shattered expectations,” Milei warned at the start of his address. He insisted that Argentina’s future depends on strict fiscal discipline and on political leaders supporting his reforms.
Turning to the public, Milei sought to reassure citizens: “The hardest years are behind us. Argentines faced the most difficult times at the beginning of this process. Now we are on the right path, even if it is still a tough one.” He thanked the population for its support of the painful measures adopted during his first years in office.
The 2026 Budget introduces several measures:
The budget also introduces, for the first time, the Reciprocal Obligations Extinction Regime, aimed at improving financial relations between the federal government and provinces. “We will work side by side with governors and legislators who want a different Argentina,” he said.
Milei defended his plan to simplify income tax filings and reinstate the principle of fiscal innocence. “The absurd notion that the State should treat its citizens as criminals by default is over,” he stated.
Another significant point was his announcement that, for the first time in decades, the primary surplus will allow the public sector to finance private infrastructure projects. “It’s time to stop seeing entrepreneurs as enemies. Investment and clear rules are essential,” Milei declared.
On the economic front, Milei pointed to achievements such as sustained inflation decline, poverty reduction, and early signs of private investment recovery. According to him, all of this was made possible by the “cornerstone” of his program: fiscal balance.
The president also cited the lifting of capital controls as a milestone and linked economic recovery to institutional stability. “We cannot keep changing the rules of the game every two years. That destroys confidence,” he cautioned.
The announcement came after meetings with Economy Minister Luis Caputo and top advisors at Casa Rosada. Following the national broadcast, Milei traveled to Paraguay to participate in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he will speak alongside President Santiago Peña.
In essence, the 2026 Budget is meant to strengthen the credibility of Milei’s economic plan and send a strong signal to the private sector and international investors. “We know the road is tough, but we also know we are heading in the right direction,” he concluded.
