President Javier Milei addressed the nation following the favorable U.S. court ruling on the YPF lawsuit, announcing a new bill to reform the Expropriations Law and heavily criticizing the “suicidal” decisions of the Kirchnerist era.

This Friday, President Javier Milei delivered a national broadcast (cadena nacional) to celebrate the favorable ruling for Argentina in the United States regarding the YPF litigation. In his message, he described the outcome as an unprecedented event and stated that the resolution was “virtually impossible” to achieve given the legal baggage inherited.

During his speech, the President announced that the Government will push for a project to modify the Expropriations Law, part of a broader review of the State’s role in the economy and the strengthening of legal certainty for international investments.

Criticism of the 2012 Statization

Milei took a sharp tone against former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof, who were the key architects of the YPF expropriation in 2012. The President rejected their attempts to claim credit for the judicial outcome, calling their stance “an affront to all Argentines.”

He argued that the 2012 decision was a “suicidal adventure that could have cost us everything,” warning that the country was exposed to losing the company entirely and facing a critical economic collapse. According to Milei, an adverse ruling would have devastated the country’s risk rating, interest rates, and overall growth potential.

A Moral Stance on Property Rights

The President insisted on a fundamental definition regarding the expropriation process:

“Expropriating is wrong because stealing is wrong.”

He contended that the violation of private property rights led to over a decade of declining investment, rising poverty, and a deterioration of the labor market.

Response from the Opposition

In contrast, sectors linked to Kirchnerism also celebrated the ruling but dismissed the Government’s criticisms. Both Cristina Kirchner and Kicillof maintained that the lawsuit lacked merit from the start and defended the 2012 nationalization as a strategic move for the country’s energy sovereignty.

Conclusion: Breaking the Populist Cycle

Milei concluded by attacking the effects of “economic populism,” which he blamed for prioritizing immediate political results at the expense of long-term consequences. He affirmed that the true defense of strategic resources requires clear rules, respect for private property, and conditions that foster sustained development.