- A Buenos Aires minister said the state could become independent
- Transport Minister Jorge D’Onofrio said the region could survive on its own
- He also had a falling out with right-wing libertarian President Javier Milei
An Argentine regional minister has sparked controversy by claiming his region could become independent – and raised fears it could become another Falklands.
Jorge D’Onofrio, transport minister for Buenos Aires province – which is led by the country’s left-wing Peronist government, said that if the region were its own country it would have the “largest GDP in Latin America”.
D’Onofrio, 61, has feuded with Argentina’s president, right-wing libertarian Javier Milei, describing his policies as “madness” and accusing him of destroying the nation.
D’Onofrio said in an interview with Radio Splendid: “I could propose today as leader of Buenos Aires that we go to a constitutional reform to see if we get out of the national state.”
He added: “If the province of Buenos Aires were a state today, it would have the richest GDP in Latin America.”
He quickly added that while he did not think independence was the way forward, he said there should be a serious debate about the role the region should play.
Jorge D’Onofrio (pictured) said: ‘I could propose today as leader of Buenos Aires that we undertake a constitutional reform to see if we emerge from the nation state’
The Buenos Aires region, excluding the capital, is home to almost 40% of Argentina’s population (File image)
Argentina pledged to gain ‘full sovereignty’ over the Falkland Islands (File image)
“We produce 45% of Argentina’s wealth and collect 22% of its revenues, subsidizing the inefficiency of the rest of the nation’s state and provinces.”
The Buenos Aires region, excluding the capital, is home to almost 40% of Argentina’s population.
The largest city, La Plata, is home to almost a million people, and it is one of five regions still controlled by Peronists, who lost the elections to Millei almost a year ago.
It comes as Argentina vowed to gain ‘full sovereignty’ over the Falkland Islands, following Britain’s decision to give up control of Mauritius’ Chagos Islands.
Argentina’s Foreign Minister Diana Mondino promised “concrete action” to ensure that the Falklands, long at the center of a territorial dispute with Britain, would return under her country’s control.
Mondino said: ‘The long-standing dispute between Britain and Mauritius has come to an end today, with the Mauritians successfully regaining their territory of Chagos.
‘We welcome this step in the right direction and the end of outdated practices. By following the path we have already taken, with concrete actions and not empty rhetoric, we will regain full sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands.
‘The Malvinas were, are and always will be Argentinians.’