Silvina Batakis

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. 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.

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, and the provincial government had to request an additional $2,800 million ARS in order to supply the net loss. 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. In addition, a previously overturned inheritance tax was reintroduced.