The socialist element in Argentina is having a tough time at the moment as newly elected President Javier Milei continues shrinking the government and working to make Argentinians more free. After months of cutting government programs and laying off government employees, he is now threatening to shut down a state-run news agency.

During the president’s inauguration of the 142^nd period of an ordinary session in the National Congress on Friday, he proposed the “Pact of May 25” and announced that he was closing the Télam news agency, referring to it as a “Kirchnerist propaganda agency.”

Milei reaffirmed his commitment to eliminating the misuse of public resources. In Télam’s case, the issue is that the news agency is perceived as a propaganda outlet for socialist elements in Argentina. He also indicated that he will prohibit government officials from using state funds to travel on private airplanes and insisted that he and his officials would instead opt for commercial flights.

Milei’s move is being met with resistance from some who favor keeping the news agency in business.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Argentine Federation of Press Workers, Carla Gaudensi, published on X (formerly Twitter) after the speech: “Télam is not closed. We are going to defend it not only the workers of the Agency but also the entire Argentine people, as with all state companies, the public assets and the sovereignty of our country.”

Martín Becerra, academic and media expert, also cautioned against shuttering the news outlet, arguing that “Télam and Radio Nacional are the only media outlets with correspondents in all the provinces of the country.”

This is the latest in a long series of reforms Milei’s administration has implemented since taking over in December. In February, it became clear that the new president’s agenda has already yielded positive results. The nation now has its first budget surplus in more than ten years.

This achievement marks a tremendous accomplishment under its new libertarian leader, who ran on a platform of shrinking the government as much as possible.

The government of Argentina has posted its first monthly budget surplus in more than a decade — a major milestone for the new libertarian president, Javier Milei. His economic and budgetary reforms still face an uphill battle in his legislature, however.

With inflation and poverty ravaging much of the country, Mr. Milei’s stated goal of “shock therapy” for the nation has been met with adulation from ideologues young and old, and scorn from union bosses.

The nearly $600 million monthly surplus is the first to occur since August 2012, and the monthly inflation rate even fell in January to 20.6 percent from 25.5 percent. “The zero deficit is not negotiable,” the Economy Minister, Luis Caputo, says on X.

On February 2, the chamber of deputies passed a framework agreement for Mr. Milei’s reforms aimed at privatizing state companies, deregulating the economy, and making changes to the nation’s criminal and environmental laws. The legislature is still debating the fine text of the package, but if it passes, it would mark a significant victory for Mr. Milei’s libertarian theory of governance.

“They understood the historical context and chose to end the privileges of the caste and the corporate republic, in favor of the people, who have been impoverished and are hungry,” Mr. Milei said after the lower chamber passed the preliminary motion on his reform package.

This is pretty impressive considering that January was Milei’s first full month running the country. Pulling off this type of fiscal outcome is a significant feat considering that it includes the interest payment on the public debt.

Milei’s tenure has already been characterized by bold, sweeping reforms intended to shrink the size of the government and allow for more freedom in Argentina’s economy. Shortly after taking the reins, Milei began slashing government agencies, especially those intended for useless programs intended to push a decidedly leftist agenda.

Milei’s decision to shut down the Télam news agency shows his dedication to fiscal responsibility but also his intolerance for the state funding socialist propaganda.