Argentina’s Forest Fires Expose Government Failures Amid National Emergency

As vast wildfires ravage Patagonia, consuming more than 45,000 hectares across multiple provinces, Argentina has officially declared an emergency. But this dramatic measure comes not as a sign of proactive governance, rather as an overdue admission of failure by officials who neglected early prevention and timely response.How Did Argentina Let These Blazes Grow Out of Control?The Argentine government announced a Decree of Necessity and Urgency to address the infernos devastating Chubut, Río Negro, Neuquén, and La Pampa. Yet all signs indicate this move is reactive—triggered only after governors demanded “exceptional tools” to combat what has become a national disaster.While firefighters...