Political crisis – President Fernandez reshuffles the government in Argentina

Argentine President Alberto Fernández on Friday announced a new government to resolve the political crisis caused by the electoral setback of his majority and which turned into an open confrontation with his Vice President Cristina Kirchner.

The executive went through its most intense crisis this week in the wake of last Sunday’s legislative primary elections, in which the ruling coalition Fronte de Todos (centre-left Peronism) garnered only 31% of the vote nationally.

Created in 2009, Argentina is characterized by a system of common primaries for all political parties on the same day and at the national level. As voting is mandatory, these are a life-size barometer before the primary vote.

Christina Kirchner Pressure

The ruling coalition’s poor Sunday results stunned him during the November 14 elections, the loss of his majority in the Senate and the abandonment of hope of achieving it in the Chamber of Deputies, while he remains in office for two more years. Fernandez-Kirchner Mandate.

The executive crisis began on Wednesday when Interior Minister Eduardo “Vado” de Pedro resigned along with four other members of the government. Everyone is considered close to Christina Kirchner and the initiative is interpreted by the Vice President as pressure on the head of state to completely replace the government.

“Do you seriously believe that after such a defeat, it is not necessary to publicly present resignation and the person in charge facilitates the President to reconstitute his government?” Then Christina Kirchner wrote in an open letter on Thursday, in which she criticizes hierarchs who “cling to their chairs”.

Economic Crisis

The president did not accept these resignations, and the five resigning ministers eventually remained in office, as did Martin Guzmán, the holder of the economy portfolio and chief negotiator for the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The governor of Tucumán (North-West) province, Juan Manzur, has been appointed head of the Council of Ministers, replacing Santiago Cafiero, one of the most contested executive members by Cristina Kirchner. However, Santiago Cafeiro has been appointed head of diplomacy, replacing Felipe Sola, who lives in Mexico.

The new ministers are Aníbal Fernández (Security), Julian Dominguez (Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries), Juan Perzic (Education) and Daniel Filmas (Science and Technology). Juan Ross is the new Secretary of Communications and Press in place of Juan Pablo Biondi, whom the vice president has openly criticized for conducting “off operations”, these discussions with journalists under the guise of anonymity.

One of the highest inflation rates in the world

Argentina has been going through an economic crisis in recession since 2018, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate the effects of health restrictions, the government has issued large currency issues, especially in 2020, despite its impact on inflation.

Christina Kirchner, president between 2007 and 2015, this week criticized President Fernandez, saying he did not release enough liquidity in 2021. “I went on to state that I thought a poor fiscal adjustment policy was being carried out, and that there was going to be a negative impact on economic activity and, therefore, on society as a whole and, undoubtedly, election consequences,” she said on Thursday. also wrote in his open letter.

Argentina experiences high rates of poverty (42%) and unemployment (10%), as well as the highest inflation rate in the world (32% from January to August) and outstanding debt of 44%. billion dollars (41 billion francs) from the IMF. On 22 September, the country would have to pay $1.9 billion (1.8 billion francs) to the IMF, and another the same amount in December.

AFP

Posted this morning at 5:14 am

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