Milei challenges Argentina's longstanding human rights policies

The decision by President Javier Milei to name the head of Argentina’s Army, Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti, as the nation’s new defence minister, replacing Luis Petri, was disclosed in the same week a call was made for a new march to demand the release of those sentenced for crimes against humanity committed during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship’s time in power.

Since Milei took office in December 2023, there have been executive decisions, public expressions and gestures which have it made it very clear – at the very least – that within La Libertad Avanza, the crimes committed during by the military junta can be explained by the so-called “two demons” theory, which equates state terrorism with the violence committed by armed guerrilla groups during that era.

The question now is, how deep the ruling party intends to go in this direction. And what implications it will have for the state policy of “Memory, Truth and Justice” in the short, medium and long term.

The appointment of Lieutenant General Presti generates various debates. On the one hand, it is the first time since the return to democracy that a military man has taken the helm at the Defence Ministry. On the other hand, several parties have noted that the Army chief’s father, Roque Carlos Presti, was also a military man, one accused of committing crimes against humanity during the dictatorship, when Presti Snr was the commander of the Seventh Infantry Regiment in La Plata. Despite being accused, he never stood trial, having passed away before proceedings could begin.

Lieutenant General Presti has not commented publicly on his father