The Frontier

Daniel Lacalle argues that Spain's migrant crisis in Ceuta, where roughly 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco, was driven by the socialist government's pro-migration pull factors and generous taxpayer subsidies.

Ceuta normally operates with a maximum migrant capacity of 29 people. Daniel Lacalle notes that the territory of 85,000 residents was entirely abandoned by the central government when overwhelmed by tens of thousands of illegal crossings.

Spain launched the largest amnesty program in its democratic history. Daniel Lacalle notes that while the government targeted 500,000 regularizations, latest estimates show up to 2 million requested amnesty, expanding Spain's population by over 2 million in eight years.

Daniel Lacalle claims left-wing governments use illegal migration to build a dependent, submissive subclass of future voters. He cites EU data showing that 20% of illegal migrants will never work, relying entirely on government subsidies.

Daniel Lacalle blames hyper-regulation and direct and indirect tax rates reaching up to 78% for killing European innovation. These confiscatory policies prevent the creation of domestic tech giants like Amazon or Tesla.

Daniel Lacalle warns that economic crises rarely spark market liberalization. Instead, governments routinely use crises like the 2008 financial crash to expand intervention, increase regulations, and blame free markets for the collapse.

Prior to Javier Milei taking power, Argentina suffered from 25% monthly inflation, over 50% poverty, and more than 40 different exchange rates. Its central bank was entirely bankrupt with 12.5 billion dollars in negative assets.

Under Javier Milei, Argentina achieved a zero fiscal deficit and grew at a 4% annual rate. Daniel Lacalle reports that Milei pulled 14 million people out of poverty and reduced the overall poverty rate below 25%.

Daniel Lacalle explains that Javier Milei has not yet dollarized or closed the central bank because doing so with negative reserves would collapse the banking system. Instead, Milei is floating both currencies and letting banks lend in dollars.

Peter St Onge argues that social media and decentralized technologies make it impossible for elites to successfully censor political speech. Decentralized channels allow citizens to find moral support and coordinate populist movements outside legacy media control.