Silvina Batakis

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Silvina Batakis

| image = Batakisministra (cropped).jpg

| office = Minister of Habitat and Urban Development of Buenos Aires Province

| governor = Axel Kicillof

| term_start = 13 December 2023

| office1 = President of the Banco de la Nación Argentina

| president1 = Alberto Fernández

| term_start1 = 5 August 2022

| term_end1 = 10 December 2023

| predecessor1 = Eduardo Hecker

| successor1 = Daniel Tillard

| office2 = Minister of Economy

| president2 = Alberto Fernández

| term_start2 = 4 July 2022

| term_end2 = 3 August 2022

| predecessor2 = Martín Guzmán

| successor2 = Sergio Massa

| office3 = Secretary of Provinces

| term_start3 = 27 December 2019

| term_end3 = 4 July 2022

| president3 = Alberto Fernández

| predecessor3 = Alejandro Caldarelli

| successor3 = Bruno Ruggeri

| office4 = Minister of Economy of Buenos Aires Province

| term_start4 = 10 December 2011

| term_end4 = 10 December 2015

| governor4 = Daniel Scioli

| predecessor4 = Alejandro Gaspar Arlía

| successor4 = Hernán Lacunza

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|12|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Río Grande, Argentina

| party = Justicialist Party

| otherparty = Front for Victory (2007–2015)
Frente de Todos (2019–2023)
Union for the Homeland (2023-present)

| children = 1

| education = National University of La Plata

}}

Silvina Aída Batakis (born 27 December 1968) is an Argentine economist and politician. She currently works as the Minister of Habitat and Urban Development of Buenos Aires Province.{{Cite web |date=13 December 2023 |title=Kicillof tomó juramento a los integrantes del gabinete provincial {{!}} Provincia de Buenos Aires |url=https://www.gba.gob.ar/comunicacion_publica/gacetillas/kicillof_tom%C3%B3_juramento_los_integrantes_del_gabinete_provincial |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=www.gba.gob.ar |language=es}} She was the President of the Banco de la Nación Argentina from 2022 to 2023, she also served as the Minister of Economy for a brief period in 2022. Previously, she served as Secretary of Provinces in the Ministry of the Interior and as economy minister of Buenos Aires Province under Governor Daniel Scioli from 2011 to 2015.

Early life

Batakis was born in Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, and grew up in Río Gallegos, Rafaela, Taco Pozo and La Plata. She graduated with a licenciatura in Economics from the National University of La Plata in 1993. Additionally, she holds a master's degree in public finances and a master's degree in environmental economy from the University of York.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/batakis-economista-fanatica-boca-cancha_0_BJhZoZFvQg.html|work=Clarín|title=Quién es "la griega" Batakis, la economista que es fanática de Boca y va a la cancha sola|date=15 October 2015|access-date=3 July 2022|language=es}}

Political career

Starting in 1992, Batakis held a number of public offices in the government of Buenos Aires Province. In 2009, she was appointed as cabinet chief and Secretary of Finances in the provincial economy ministry under Alejandro Arlía; in 2011, Governor Daniel Scioli designated Batakis as economy minister in her own right.

As economy minister of Buenos Aires, Batakis introduced a reform in the provincial tax revenue distribution system. The reform resulted in a tax increase and lower subsidies from the provincial government in 60% of the province's districts,{{cite web|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/recortan-la-coparticipacion-para-el-60-de-los-municipios-bonaerenses-nid1443454/|work=La Nación|title=Recortan la coparticipación para el 60% de los municipios bonaerenses|last=Morosi|first=Pablo|date=26 January 2012|access-date=3 July 2022|language=es}} and the provincial government had to request an additional $2,800 million ARS in order to supply the net loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/ultimas/20-199067-2012-07-19.html|work=Página 12|title=La Nación girará nuevos fondos a Buenos Aires para completar los aguinaldos|date=19 July 2012|access-date=3 July 2022|language=es}} The reform was criticised by then president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. In 2014, Batakis introduced a 30% spike in rural and urban property tax, excluding retirees and pensioners owning properties valued under $200,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.minutouno.com/economia/provincia/se-aprobo-el-presupuesto-y-la-ley-impositiva-bonaerense-n344052|work=Minuto Uno|title=Se aprobó el Presupuesto y la ley Impositiva bonaerense|date=14 November 2014|access-date=3 July 2022|language=es}} In addition, a previously overturned inheritance tax was reintroduced.

During Scioli's 2015 presidential campaign, the then-governor announced Batakis was his pick for an eventual economy minister. Scioli lost the election against Mauricio Macri in the second round.

In 2019, Batakis was designated as Secretary of Provinces in the Ministry of the Interior by President Alberto Fernández and interior minister Eduardo de Pedro. As secretary, Batakis headed the negotiations for a new fiscal consensus in order to grant Argentina's 23 provinces further financial autonomy and judicial stability for the Argentine tax system.{{cite web|url=https://eleconomista.com.ar/politica/el-gobierno-firma-nuevo-consenso-fiscal-23-gobernadores-n49186|work=El Economista|title=El Gobierno firma un nuevo Consenso Fiscal con 23 gobernadores|date=27 December 2021|access-date=3 July 2022|language=es}}

The minister of economy Martín Guzmán resigned in 2022, amid an economic crisis. There were lengthy and conflictive negotiations between the factions of the Frente de Todos, which culminated in the appointment of Batakis, a vocal supporter of Cristina Kirchner's economic policies.{{cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2022/07/03/la-falta-de-acuerdo-entre-la-pareja-presidencial-dilata-la-designacion-del-futuro-ministro-de-economia/|work=Infobae|title=Silvina Batakis será la nueva ministra de Economía|last=Mugica Díaz|first=Joaquín|date=3 July 2022|access-date=3 July 2022|language=es}}

She resigned from her position as Minister of Economy on 28 July 2022, 24 days after she had been appointed in that position.{{Cite web |last=Molina |first=Federico Rivas |date=2022-07-28 |title=La ministra de Economía de Argentina presenta su renuncia tras 24 días en el cargo |url=https://elpais.com/argentina/2022-07-28/la-ministra-de-economia-de-argentina-presenta-su-renuncia-24-dias-despues.html |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=El País Argentina |language=es-AR}} President Alberto Fernandez designated her to become the new President of the Banco de la Nación Argentina on that same day.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-28 |title=Silvina Batakis, nueva presidenta del Banco Nación |url=https://www.minutouno.com/politica/silvina-batakis/nueva-presidenta-del-banco-nacion-n5497394 |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=www.minutouno.com}}

She assumed her position as President of the Banco de la Nación on 5 August 2022,{{Cite web |title=Oficializan la designación de Silvina Batakis como presidenta del Banco Nación |url=https://www.minutoar.com.ar/actualidad/2022/8/5/oficializan-la-designacion-de-silvina-batakis-como-presidenta-del-banco-nacion-54382.html |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=www.minutoar.com.ar |language=spanish}} after being officially appointed to that position the previous day.{{Cite web |title=BOLETIN OFICIAL REPUBLICA ARGENTINA - BANCO DE LA NACIÓN ARGENTINA - Decreto 457/2022 |url=https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/268064 |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=www.boletinoficial.gob.ar}}

After leaving her position in the national government, Axel Kicillof, the governor of Buenos Aires Province, appointed her as the Minister of Habitat and Urban Development of Buenos Aires Province on 13 December 2023.

Personal life

Batakis is nicknamed La Griega ("the Greek") referring to her Greek origins. She has a son.{{cite web|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/quien-es-silvina-batakis-la-nueva-ministra-de-economia-nid03072022/|work=La Nación|title=Quién es Silvina Batakis, la nueva ministra de Economía|date=3 July 2022|access-date=3 July 2022|language=es}}