Patricia Bullrich confronts the Buenos Aires minister in a debate on security and juvenile accountability

The political confrontation on social media intensified this week when Patricia Bullrich, former minister and libertarian senator, engaged in a heated exchange with Javier Alonso, head of the Buenos Aires Security Department. The conflict centered around insecurity in the country’s most populous province and, specifically, on the government’s proposed reform of the Juvenile Criminal Responsibility Law that Governor Axel Kicillof has promoted as part of his legislative agenda.

Diverging Positions on Juvenile Criminal Reform

Governor Kicillof had stated that, although Argentina needs a new juvenile criminal regime, simply lowering the age of criminal responsibility “will not be the definitive solution to structural problems.” From his perspective, he argued: “There are no magic solutions; a coordinated action among the three branches of government, rigorous work, and a long-term strategy are required.”

Patricia Bullrich responded with a devastating critique of this stance: she questioned the lack of commitment to security and crime victims, suggesting that the Buenos Aires government “is always on the side of criminals.” Directly addressing officials, she posed a provocative question: Would they dare to explain to families who lost loved ones at the hands of minors that there is no need to change the age of criminal responsibility?

Javier Alonso Responds from the Complexity of the Issue

The Buenos Aires Security Minister quickly intervened in the debate. Alonso accused Bullrich of “using victims’ pain to build an opportunistic political campaign” and argued that “security issues are much more complex than simply reducing them to a matter of age.”

He also emphasized that issues like minority status “are not resolved with slogans or provocations from digital platforms,” directly criticizing the senator to present “more substantial and serious arguments” instead of “resorting to political circus and opportunism.”

Bullrich’s Reply and Reference to Public Funds

Far from backing down, Bullrich continued the exchange, arguing that Kicillof’s management demonstrates an excessive commitment to the rights of criminals over victims. She described Greater Buenos Aires as “a zone of uncontrolled crimes” and dismissed official proposals for comprehensive policies as “vague promises.”

Alonso concluded the debate by pointing out that characterizing Buenos Aires as a crime-ridden region “is repeating slogans that distort reality.” According to the official, crimes in the district “are decreasing,” a fact publicly acknowledged by his national Security Minister. The final attack was forceful: Alonso accused the national government of withdrawing more than 14.7 trillion pesos that belonged to the province for security and social welfare, urging Bullrich to “stop evading responsibilities and abandon clichés that do not reflect the reality of the facts.”

This confrontation reflects the deep division between Patricia Bullrich and the Buenos Aires administration regarding how to address security issues in the province, with both sides appealing to arguments that resonate within their respective political bases.