INTERNACIONAL
Argentine court suspends labor changes in a blow to President Milei’s economic plan
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — President Javier Milei suffered a judicial blow Wednesday as a court suspended labor rule changes he recently announced as part of sweeping deregulation and austerity measures aimed at reviving Argentina’s struggling economy.
The ruling by a three-judge court came on a legal challenge brought by the main union group, the General Labor Confederation, which argued that the changes affected workers rights.
ARGENTINA’S MILEI CUTS 5,000 GOVERNMENT JOBS, WILL NOT RENEW CONTRACTS
Milei’s decree announced in December established several changes in labor rules, including increasing job probation from three to eight months, reducing severance compensation and allowing the possibility of dismissal for workers taking part of blockades during some protests.
Alejandro Sudera, one of the three judges, said the administration went beyond its authority to decree labor changes, which first needed to discussed and approved by Congress.
Milei’s government said it would appeal the court’s ruling.
The union confederation applauded the court, saying the decision «puts a stop to the regressive and anti-worker labor reform.»
Labor activists have questioned whether Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist who has long railed against the country’s «political caste,» can impose the measures using emergency decree bypass the legislature.
On Dec. 20, a few days after taking office as the new president, Milei announced sweeping initiatives to transform Argentina’s economy, including easing government regulation and allowing privatization of state-run industries. The libertarian economist made about 300 changes.
The measures have stirred protests in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital.
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Since his inauguration Dec. 10, Milei has devalued the country’s currency by 50%, cut transport and energy subsidies, and said his government won’t renew contracts for more than 5,000 state employees hired before he took office.
He says he wants to transform Argentina’s economy and reduce the size of the state to address rising poverty and annual inflation expected to reach 200% by the end of the year.
INTERNACIONAL
Central and Eastern European countries mark 20 years in NATO with focus on war in Ukraine
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Several central and Eastern European countries began marking on Thursday the 20th anniversary of the largest expansion of the NATO military alliance when formerly socialist countries became members of the bloc.
Military aircraft roared over the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. At the main airbase hosting Spanish and Portuguese fighter jets tasked with NATO air policing missions in the Baltic region, officials gathered to commemorate the event.
NATO WELCOMES 32ND MEMBER, EXPERT WARNS BIGGER BLOC ‘EXACERBATES’ PUTIN’S FEARS
«Russia’s new bloody terror in Europe is contributing to the growth of instability and threats around the world. However, we in Lithuania are calm because we know that we will never be alone again,» said President Gitanas Nauseda, standing near the runway where the first NATO jets landed back in 2004. «We will always have a strong, supportive Alliance family by our side, and we will face any challenges together.»
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined NATO on March 29 in 2004, bringing the total membership of the Alliance to 26. The seven nations started accession negotiations soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union and eventually were invited to join at the Prague Summit in November 2002. Another group of former Soviet satellites including Poland and the Czech Republic had been admitted several years earlier.
Since joining the alliance, these countries often warned about the threat of Russia, using their national trauma of Soviet occupation as proof of credibility. While Western nations often dismissed their sometimes hawkish attitude, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is seen as a vindication of those fears. They have given some of the most robust responses, helping Ukraine with equipment and money, and pushing for even greater sanctions on Russia.
Most of the former Soviet Republics that joined NATO at the turn of the millennium spend more than the required 2% of gross domestic product on defense. When Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis announced his bid earlier this month to become the next leader of the alliance, he emphasized the threat from Russia and said the alliance needs a «renewal of perspectives» that Eastern Europe could provide.
«Russia is proving to be a serious and long-term threat to our continent, to our Euro-Atlantic security,» the 65-year-old said when he announced his bid. «NATO’s borders become of paramount importance, and the strengthening of the eastern flank … will remain a long-term priority.»
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The seven countries are marking the anniversary with solemn events and shows of force, but also some levity, with open-air concerts and exhibitions.
«Twenty years ago the Bulgarian people made the right choice for our country to join NATO,» the country’s defense chief Adm. Emil Eftimov said. «Given today’s security situation, this is the most appropriate decision we have made in our recent history.»
NATO was established in the aftermath of World War II.
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