Milei plans technology event with Tinder founder – 01/31/2024 – Market

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, spoke with the co-founder of Tinder, Sean Rad, on Wednesday (31). The Argentine sought support from leaders in the technology sector, while members of the Argentine Congress began the debate on the “bus law” — the main flank of an attempt at ultra-liberal reform in the country.

“Just had a conference call with Sean Rad,” Milei posted on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. He and Rad, who helped launch the popular dating app, “agreed to organize an event in Buenos Aires with big tech entrepreneurs,” Milei said.

The technology summit announcement demonstrates Milei’s efforts to attract investment and project confidence despite austerity measures that he recognizes will cause short-term economic pain.

The call came as the lower house of congress began discussions on Milei’s sweeping bill, a sweeping package of reforms and measures that make up his “shock therapy” plan for Argentina’s ailing economy. He trimmed key provisions in an attempt to pass the bill in the fragmented legislature, in which his party holds a small minority.

A vote could take place as early as Wednesday, although the debate could extend throughout the week.

Milei, who took office on December 10, inherited a deep economic crisis, with inflation rates above 200%, pushing almost half of the country into poverty. On Tuesday (31), the International Monetary Fund reduced its growth estimate for Argentina, predicting that South America’s second-largest economy will shrink for two consecutive years amid Milei’s austerity campaign.

Rad, who resigned as president of Tinder in 2016, joins the list of technology leaders supporting Milei. Elon Musk is one of her most ardent supporters and recently republished the president’s full speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on X. Rad’s most recent post on the site is also about the speech.

In December, Milei changed a law by decree to bring Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to Argentina. Other technology executives, including MercadoLibre Inc. CEO Marcos Galperin and Globant CEO Martin Migoya, also expressed support for the libertarian leader.