Argentinian president Javier Milei’s recent so called “War on Diversity” has sparked mass protest, with the result being thousands taking to the streets. This comes as a response to his administration, which has ultimately dismantled policies designed in order to protect minority and marginalized communities. As Per NBC NEWS  Milei has shut down many key government institutions, such as “the Ministry of Women, Genders and Diversity and the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI)” all with the justification of being a cost cutting measure. In addition to this, this same article outlines how Mileis’ administration is framing LGBTQ and Minority communities as “ideological excesses” rather than democratic safeguards, Which ultimately mirrors the warning signs of democratic backsliding. However, though the immediate concern at hand in Argentina is the erosion of diversity, the broader concern world wide lies in the fact that this is the latest of many dominoes to fall in Argentinas alarming recent spell. As, Milei’s crackdown on minority rights is yet another step in the country’s ongoing trend toward democratic erosion.

Though Milei is no stranger to this trend. Throughout his time in office, he has implicitly used the power of the emergency decrees at his disposal in order to bypass the Congress of the nation and implement his economic and other policies regardless of opposition or other parties wishes. This in itself is an act of executive aggrandizement, where Milei is by – passing the institutional checks placed and ultimately is diminishing legislative oversight, which is thus reducing deliberation on major reforms (typical conversations on wether or not to pass these policies), all to implement his own policies at his own wishes faster and with no oversight. It is with this undermining of democracy from within that ultimately begins to mark the erosion of democracy as a whole.

Though Milei’s attack on the LGBTQ+ community goes beyond the dismantling of policy. His rhetoric has been especially controversial, extending to the labeling of LGBTQ+ persons as “pedophiles”. Though this framing strategy is not new, and rather is one of risk that has been used in the past to undermine and marginalize minority groups. NBC NEWS underscores the role of Milei’s campaign in intensifying this hostility toward minority communities prior to him taking office, stating that “since Milei’s campaign, even before taking office, we have registered a lot of violence, discrimination, and hatred towards our community.” This anti-democratic rhetoric fosters a culture of hate and not  inclusivity, which is ultimately  following along with broader concept of authoritarian consolidation, in which we see how leaders create moral panic in order to justify their repressive measures and ultimately to strengthen their power.

Though, this delegitimizing/ accusatory rhetoric used by Milei and his administration is not only present in the LGBTQ+ realm, but rather across various topics. Across various media outlets such as Tik Tok, X, etc. in addition to traditional ones, Milei frequently lashes out against opposition parties and social movements, branding them as “obstacles to national progress”. Which As per Levitsky and Ziblatt highlight in their How Democracies Die, “leaders who frame their opponents as enemies rather than legitimate competitors erode democratic norms”. Milei even goes as far as to  scapegoating minority and migrant groups potentially signifying democratic breakdown. In terms of this democratic breakdown, and undermining of government, it is also worthy of noting that on his first day in office last year Milei famously took his”chainsaw” to office as promised during his campaign, and instantly cut the government ministries in half all while using his signature “afuera” catchphrase.

Ultimately, while Argentinas inflation rates are lowering at a large rate (with the lowest inflation rate in recent history), it is worth mentioning the questions of, can governance that prioritizes economic recovery justify institutional weakening? and  Is Economic relief worth more than a functioning democracy? I say this as Milei’s leadership in Argentina exemplifies various aspects of democratic backsliding, especially regarding the consolidation of executive power, suppression of opposition, and weakening of institutions. And now with LGBTQ+ being at the forefront, it does make you wonder what lies next for Argentina under Javier Milei.