The Argentine Ministry of Defense will be headed by a military officer for the first time since the return to democracy in 1983, according to the appointment announced this Saturday by the government of Javier Milei within the framework of the renewal of his cabinet.
The new head of Defense will be Lieutenant General Carlos Presti, current head of the Army.
The replacement is obligatory part of the replacement of several ministers who won seats in Congress in the October legislative elections, when the ruling party prevailed, and will take office on December 10 to promote reform laws in the labor, pension and tax areas.
His appointment represents a break with the appointment of civilians to that portfolio, something that both center-left and right-wing governments have maintained unchanged in the last 42 years.
“For the first time since the return of democracy, a person with an impeccable military career, who has reached the highest rank in his ranks, will be at the head of the ministry that will be in charge of national defense and the Armed Forces, inaugurating a tradition that we hope the political leadership will continue from now on and ending the demonization of our officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers,” said a government statement.
Argentina was under a de facto government between 1976 and 1983 that established a bloody civil-military dictatorship.
Human rights organizations estimated that the dictatorship left some 30,000 missing and more than 400 babies stolen from the captivity of their mothers, of which 140 have recovered their identity decades later thanks to the work of justice and the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo Association in a search that remains open.
Hundreds of trials against former repressors are still being held in the courts that total more than a thousand convictions for crimes against humanity.
The designated Minister of Defense is the son of Roque Presti, who commanded the 7th Infantry Regiment of La Plata during the dictatorship.
In addition to her appointment, Alejandra Monteoliva was also appointed as Minister of Security, replacing Patricia Bullrich, who will assume a seat as senator.
“Both appointments imply continuity of course,” the government stressed. In the case of the Ministry of Security, has been characterized by the repression of protests with a controversial anti-riot protocol that has caused serious injuries, including elderly people protesting their meager salaries and journalists in the exercise of their work.
