Martin Bidegaray
08/08/2020 - 23:01
- Clarín.com
- Economy
- Economy
The imminent increase in the price of fuel is supported by the different aspects that make up the Frente de Todos. However, yesterday a race began to escape the political costs that that decision implies.
Sectors of Christianity do not want the vice president to be stuck with a decision that may sound unpopular. The Minister of Productive Development. Matías Kulfas explained that "it is an issue that is being analyzed, the president commented on it." "Naphtha is important. It is at the same value as in December 2019. It has not yet been made (the decision to increase) but it is a possibility," he explained.
Miguel Galuccio , former president of YPF oil company and owner of Vista, is person consultation of Cristina Fernandez on energy issues and debt. Although Galuccio carves in the energetic gaze of the former president, those who know him say that he did not participate in the decision to apply an increase. His figure arouses some misgivings in the harshest Christianity. They reject the idea that the businessman has influence on Cristina Fernández. Others, like Chief of Staff Santiago Cafiero, think otherwise. And they do know.
"The increase is something that the companies decide , " explained Martín Guzmán in an interview with Clarín (see page 10) . But the minister went further: “YPF's strategic role must be recovered. YPF is in a dramatic situation ” thus guaranteeing the increase that is coming.
" Nobody convinces Cristina of anything . Cristina does not increase anything. In any case, the Government makes a determination together with a purpose that is in line with the planned economic route," they commented from the hard-line Christianity about the imminent increase.
However, the different sectors that make up the Frente de Todos have another view of Cristina's role in Energía. "If she does not endorse, nothing can be done," commented an official strictly off the record. "On the contrary, when Cristina decides that it is necessary to go ahead with an energy decision, the rest of the Cabinet accommodates, " adds a businessman who feels affinity with Albertism.
The vice president may not have endorsed the increase, but - at least - she did not hinder it. In December, Guillermo Nielsen became president of YPF. One of his first decisions was to want to apply an increase in fuels. It was not possible. Cristina Fernández objected and President Alberto Fernández came out to deny the increase. That increase was ruled out.
As a former head of YPF, Galuccio has his ideas and recommendations to make the oil company work. These are matters that he has discussed with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Galuccio is in favor of an increase in fuels, but close to him they say that he did not speak it on time with the vice president. Although Galuccio did tell the former president that YPF needs to rebuild its income.
The decree that established the Creole barrel - a support price for local oil production - is an example of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's predicament on energy issues. On one side was Miguel Galuccio (who defended him), and on the other the Cristinistas of YPF, Guillermo Nielsen (of YPF) and other energy officials.
The Ministry of Productive Development began to study the idea as soon as the pandemic started. However, there they didn't want it to be a hasty decision. Suddenly, there was an acceleration of the project. In public they will repeat that it was a request of the governors, like the Neuquén Omar Gutiérrez. that he was claiming it. In private, some official slips that "the order to advance at another speed by President Alberto Fernández lowered."
The ups and downs with the Creole barrel also illustrate the troubles that even Cristinistas themselves experience with the decisions of the "chief." The Christian delegates at YPF were stubbornly opposed to the idea, because they found it onerous and unnecessary, in tune with Nielsen. Until Sergio Affronti was appointed as CEO of YPF and the company's position changed.
Cristina Fernández chose Affronti on the recommendation of Miguel Galuccio. And the same businessman was the main defender of the Creole barrel. Around Galuccio they don't like that the owner of Vista is seen as having a high influence on Cristina. According to Galuccio's competitors, YPF executives and current non-ultralkirchnerist officials, Galuccio has "privileged" access to the former vice president.
Galuccio suggested Affronti as CEO of YPF, since he had worked in a sensitive area (Purchasing) during his tenure. Cristina Fernández ended up pushing him. Galuccio suggested the "creole barrel", which the Kirchnerists rejected, until they received the indication that they should adopt it.
The next battle for the Cristinistas is over rates. The vice president does not want to endorse any increase and thus instructed the regulators, such as Federico Bernal (Enargas) and Federico Basualdo (Enre).
"We have implemented a rate freeze to allow room for review and how to address it in a better way. In this framework we are working with the idea of being able to generate reasonable rates that allow financing the system, investments for quality of services and that are affordable by households and industries. We are working on a scheme that allows reasonable and affordable rates. We are in that process, "Kulfas characterized the process, leaving the door open for some increases.
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