Argentina’s economist Javier Milei has been to Davos before, but this year he’s returning for the first time as president.
Milei was announced Tuesday as one of more than 300 public figures to be attending the World Economic Forum’s flagship event in the Swiss alps.
It is not yet clear if Milei will be speaking. His name does not yet appear on the published agenda, but not all panels were complete when True North reviewed the public programme.
Milei, a libertarian, became the president of Argentina on December 10 and quickly brought about a sweeping set of reforms that included slashing the size of cabinet and banning government officials from describing anything paid for by taxpayers as “free.”
Milei campaigned on reining in inflation and righting Argentina’s economic course, but he was candid that this won’t be easy.
“There is no alternative to a shock adjustment,” Milei said after taking office. “There is no money.”
Milei spoke in Davos previously as an economist, before getting into politics two years ago.
Other public figures attending this year’s annual meeting include Chinese premier Li Qiang, French president Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The theme for the conference, which kicks off Monday, is “Rebuilding Trust.” Sessions on the official programme include discussions about where “freedom of expression is going,” “protecting the vulnerable online,” and “preparing for disease X,” a reference to a mystery diseases the World Health Organization claims could be more dangerous than COVID-19.
True North’s Andrew Lawton, Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, and Shawn Thompson will be reporting from the ground in Davos next week. Support True North’s coverage here.
