Des intellectuels et des artistes argentins et français demandent que Javier Milei soit déclaré "personne non grata" à Paris

A group of Argentine and French intellectuals and artists has called for President Javier Milei to be declared a "persona non grata" in Paris ahead of his planned visit to the city on September 30. The petition, published on the platform Change.org, was launched in response to Milei's upcoming participation in the Paris Week of Argentina, an event aimed at attracting European investments. Within 24 hours, the appeal had garnered over 1,000 signatures. The petition outlines concerns regarding Milei’s economic policies, which have been in place for nearly three years. It highlights the impact of these policies, including reduced household purchasing power and consumption, mass layoffs of public sector employees, a transformation of the labor market marked by a decline in formal and protected employment in favor of precarious and impoverished jobs, despite a drop in inflation. Public services have faced severe cuts, affecting universities, research, education, culture, and hospitals. A recession is reportedly impacting businesses unrelated to raw materials or finance. Signatories include writers such as Laura Alcoba, Caryl Férey, and Alicia Dujovne Ortiz, actor Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, philosophers Miguel Benasayag and Pierre Dardot, researchers Julio Premat, Mariana di Ció, Edgardo Manero, and Esteban Buch, musician Eduardo Makaroff, historians Diana Quattrocchi-Woisson, Pablo Stefanoni, Christophe Giudicelli, and Olivier Compagnon, filmmaker and writer Santiago Amigorena, and artists Jose Cúneo, Cristina Ruiz-Guiñazú, Federica Matta, María Amaral, and Sergio Aquindo. Left-wing politicians such as Martine Billard and Rodrigo Arenas are among the signatories as well. The petition references several scandals involving the government, including the cryptocurrency $LIBRA, alleged bribes paid by pharmaceutical companies to the National Agency for Disability, and the attempted assassination of former presidential advisor Fernando Cerimedo in Bolivia. It criticizes the fiscal adjustment policy, claiming it has increased household debt and reliance on credit. The document also mentions the dismantling of public services, the privatization of strategic resources in favor of multinational corporations, violations of women's rights (referencing recent statements by Milei on abortion), police repression against retirees, and state-sponsored denialism. It further notes Milei’s verbal aggression toward journalists, opponents, women, human rights defenders, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community. The situation at the Argentine House in Paris, managed by lawyer Santiago Muzio, is also highlighted. The petition points out the eviction of residents based on ideological grounds and Muzio’s refusal to sign the values charter of the University City, a commitment against discrimination and in favor of freedom of conscience, which led several national residences (Japan, Canada, Germany, Denmark) to suspend their exchanges with the institution. The petition states that the Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire of the Socialist Party, has requested the French government to investigate Muzio’s activities, particularly the use of the house for meetings with European far-right groups. This case illustrates the authoritarian drift the Argentine government seeks to export to France, according to the document. The petition concludes by stating that the promotion of Milei in France, supported by certain media outlets, business organizations, and some French leaders, appears extremely serious. Therefore, they request the Paris City Hall to declare Milei a "persona non grata." Milei’s visit to Paris comes amid growing international scrutiny of his administration’s policies and actions. His presence in the city could spark further debate on Argentina’s political direction and its implications for international relations. The petition reflects broader concerns about the trajectory of Argentina’s governance and its potential influence abroad.