The national deputy of La Libertad Avanza, José Luis Espert, faced criticism for his statement about the government and the supposed elimination of the Customs to combat various forms of crime. In response, it was stated that as a public official he would face legal consequences for his words.
Following the announcement of the dissolution of the AFIP and the creation of the Revenue and Customs Control Agency (ARCA), the former Director General of Customs, Guillermo Michel, responded to President Javier Milei's comments. He presented data that contradicted the government's claims, stating that between 2007 and 2023 the AFIP had an average staffing of 21,940 agents.
Despite this, the Office of the President (OPRA) issued a statement supporting the measure, claiming that there would be a 45% reduction in senior authorities and a 31% reduction in lower levels, generating an annual savings of 6.4 billion pesos. Although the restructuring of the AFIP has not yet been officially ratified, the tension in the agency resulted in intensified actions following the announcement.
The Unified Customs Personnel Union of the Argentine Republic (SUPARA) responded with strikes and protests, including information blackouts and work stoppages for several hours. They accused the agency of a lack of leadership, poor communication with union organizations, improvisation in announcements, and unfavorable treatment of customs workers, including criticism regarding their salaries. In this context, strikes and assemblies were called for the coming days as a form of protest.
