The economic and social crisis that Argentina is suffering is causing a large exodus of immigrants from the South American country to the Valencian Community. Serious security problems and inflation that exceeded 124% year-on-year in August are prompting thousands of Argentines to look for housing and work in Valencia, Alicante or Castellón. New arrivals are surprised that there are ATMs on the street (unthinkable for them due to the high level of robbery in their country) and that children play safely in the squares. Some communicators are using YouTube’s potential to support Argentinians thinking about emigrating to Spain.
Gonzalo Maluf, Argentine immigrant, confirms the migration boom that Argentina is suffering due to the lack of opportunities that the country offers. Maluf, the grandson of a Cabanyal resident, has lived in Spain for ten years and runs an Argentine empanada restaurant (Malbec) at the intersection of Quart and Teruel streets in Valencia. “The situation in Argentina is worse than when I arrived ten years ago. The first country that Argentines emigrate to because of the language is Spain. “Many people come to the Valencian Community and Valencia in particular because the cost of living is lower than in Madrid and Barcelona and it also has one of the best beaches in Spain.”
The owner of Malbec often interacts in his restaurant with fellow Argentines who have recently arrived in Valencia and agree that they left the country due to the economic crisis and insecurity. “They sell everything they have and come.” What is happening in Argentina is complicated. “People need their children to grow up healthy and in a safe environment,” he says. Maluf, who comes from Buenos Aires, assures that in Argentina it is dangerous for women to walk alone at night because “they could suffer sexual assault.”
Argentine YouTuber Walter Aniston (27,000 subscribers) uses his channel to guide those thinking about making the jump to Spain. Two weeks ago he interviewed a couple in their 50s who have left their entire lives in Argentina because they are fed up with the insecurity and lack of opportunities in the country. The couple (Romina and Martín) have settled in the city of Alicante. His case is an example of what goes through the minds of hundreds of immigrants who arrive in the Valencian Community. “We both had good jobs. It’s not the economy. Things are getting worse socially. “My children grew up on the streets, 7 or 8 year olds can’t do that anymore,” the woman admits to the camera.
Romina left her three children (ages 18, 19 and 25) behind in Argentina (her ex-husband lives there) because she cannot bear to live in a country with so much uncertainty. From Alicante, he says he is surprised that children play in the streets and that older people go shopping with their handbags in their hands without having to worry about being robbed. “That doesn’t happen in Argentina,” he complains.
Spanish descendants
The majority of newly arrived Argentines are descended from Spanish or Italian emigrants who settled in their country decades ago and have the right to apply for Spanish or Italian citizenship. Once they have a European passport, they can move freely throughout the continent, an important part of which is establishing residency in Spain.
Households
Notarial statistics show that last year people with Italian nationality bought 854 houses in the province of Valencia, surpassing Romanians as the first nationality in sales. Specifically, purchases by people with Italian citizenship increased by 29% in 2022. The Association of Real Estate Agents of the Valencian Community emphasizes that in reality almost all of them are Argentinian, since Valencian agencies hardly work with people born in Italy.
Gonzalo Maluf confirms that many Argentines move to Valencia because, despite having good jobs, they “live almost from day to day”. Here it’s normal to have an iPhone, but there it’s crazy. It is a luxury reserved for the upper class and they must be careful not to show it off too often to avoid being robbed. The manager of the Malbec House admits that renting apartments has become more complicated in recent months because “València is booming”, although it is still a much cheaper city than Madrid or Barcelona.
The social situation in the South American country could worsen in the coming months. The candidate with the best chance of winning the next presidential election is Javier Milei, a right-wing extremist with the profile of Donald Trump who supports the dissolution of the state – with the associated risks to universal education, public health and social services – and the Dollarization of the state sets in economics. .
39.2% of Argentina’s population is poor
According to the latest measurement by Argentina’s National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec), 39.2% of Argentina’s population lives in poverty. The economic crisis is getting worse every year and many people have to resort to part-time jobs to make ends meet. Eight years ago the poverty rate was 30%. The country’s inflation is accelerating the loss of purchasing power of the middle class.
