Australia and the World Past and Present

Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, seems keen on removing some of the influence that the political Left has had in his country.

Peronist presidents have dominated the country for most of the postwar period.

And they have left their mark. Not only in the political space and on the economy but also in the cultural sphere and in art.

Peronist figures are depicted in paintings and sculptures.

Busts of Néstor Kirchner have been removed from public spaces.

The Centro Cultural Kirchner (CCK) has been renamed and will now be known as the Palacio Libertad.

It seems that Milei’s administration also has its sights set on the former public works building on Avenida 9 de Julio, in Buenos Aires.

The building features gigantic images of former First Lady, Eva Perón.

A debate has emerged over whether the building should be demolished.

The building (and now the artwork) is iconic to the Buenos Aires skyline.

The arguments for knocking down the building are these: the building is old and not fit-for-purpose. Operational running costs are becoming more and more expensive. It is also the only building of its height on the Avenia 9 de Julio and it is seen as an impediment to traffic.

Built in the 1930s, it was where Perón announced her intention to run for the Vice Presidency in 1951.

In 2002 it was declared a national historic monument during the presidency of Eduardo Duhalde.

Milei has been arguing that public spaces should belong to all and should be free of political influences. The new government calls for “partisan neutrality”.

Milei’s new Palacio Libertad doesn’t bear his name, but it does seem to reflect his overarching Libertarian philosophy.

It seems that the business of naming things is never totally neutral.