Argentina has never had a perfect track record when it comes to economic performance, yet a stark contrast can be drawn between the approach of the current and former administration. Going back, under the rule of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, economic failures had always been swept under the rug in an attempt to make the country look better and more successful than the statistics would state. However, current President Mauricio Macri has a completely different approach to the matter. Completely suppressed during a Kirchner presidency, Macri has begun releasing economic reports, primarily detailing poverty rates among the Argentinian population. After doing so, the fact that nearly one third of all Argentinians live below the 800/month poverty line. Many Argentinians have even begun ceasing utilization of public transport, and avoiding public shopping centers for fear of their own lives, as the economic disaster has driven the poorest citizens to lives of crime to protect themselves and their own families. The new regime has attempted to alleviate these issues; however, they’ve only caused more problems in the economy, such as devaluing the Argentinian currency. Macri remains hopeful however, that he can and will make a change for the better in his country. To quote Macri, “This is our reality and I want to be evaluated on whether or not I was able to reduce poverty from now on”, and it’s evident Macri only wants what’s best for his country, and wants his citizens to judge his presidential performance on statistics alone, rather than keeping secrets from his own people like his predecessor did before him.
