Guido Carelli Lynch
02/02/2020 - 9:46
- Clarín.com
- Politics
Berlin Special delivery.
Alberto Fernández is already in Berlin, the second scale of his European tour and, perhaps, the most important. The President arrived on the morning of this Sunday, from Rome. He will meet Monday afternoon with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the most powerful president in Europe. Seek your support, in negotiation with the IMF.
The German head of state will receive him at the government headquarters and after an extended meeting, he will hold a working dinner with the Argentine delegation. The meeting, the last to be confirmed, was extended after Frenchman Emmanuel Macron did the same. Near the President they interpreted the gesture as a sign of Argentina's interest, despite the crisis.
Merkel's name emerged in the conversation between Fernandez and Francisco in the private library of the Apostolic Palace, in the Vatican. The Pope, to whom the President also asked for help with the debt, has it in great esteem.
In addition to the debt renegotiation and political support that the meeting will mean, the agreement between the EU and Mercosur will be part of the talks. The chancellor, who publicly supported the administration of Mauricio Macri - was one of its main drivers. The President asked to review the "fine print" of the agreement.
The entourage underwent changes. The most important novelty, as Clarín reported days ago, is the arrival of Martín Guzmán. The Minister of Economy will arrive in this city to join a meeting with his German peer, Peter Altmaier and Foreign Minister Felipe Solá . Then, it will be part of the dinner with Merkel, in which it is discounted that it will provide details of the negotiation with the IMF and the financial situation of the country.
The general secretary of the Presidency Julio Vitobello, a “transversal” collaborator of Fernández, also joined the tour. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Marcela Losardo left - that she had asked the President to travel to the Vatican - was traveling to Paris to participate in an OECD forum. The cult secretary Guillermo Oliveri returned to Buenos Aires at night.
The Secretary of Strategic Affairs, Gustavo Beliz; Foreign Minister Solá, Communication Secretary Juan Pablo Biondi continue with the tour. The first will return to the Vatican - together with Guzmán - within three days, to participate in a seminar with the head of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva organized by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, directed by Archbishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo , the prelate who officiated Mass of reconciliation - with Peronist winks - in the crypt of San Pedro, before the interview between Fernandez and the Pope.
The President will also maintain an agenda of meetings with some of the most important companies in Germany, with assets in Argentina. He will meet with Volkswagen managers. This Monday at 17 (13 in Argentina) will receive a senior executive of the parent company and also Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of Volkswagen Latin America, as well as Thomas Owsianski, CEO of Volkswagen Argentina. Fernández would also meet with Siemens executives and in the last hours he received an invitation from Bayer , among other private colossi.
The President and the first lady, Fabiola Yañez , were received at the airport by Argentine Ambassador Pedro Villagra Delgado, and the German representative in Buenos Aires, Jürgen Christian Mertens . Then, they moved with the entire delegation to the Regent Hotel, in the center of this capital; a few blocks from the Brandenburg Gate.
Fernández will leave for Spain in the early hours of Tuesday, where he will meet with the president of the Spanish government Pedro Sánchez and with King Felipe VI . He will also hold a meeting with the head of the European Union diplomacy, Josep Borrell , before leaving for France to meet with Emmanuel Macron, at the end of his tour.
The President arrived in Rome on Thursday, where - in addition to his meeting with the Pope - he held bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and President Sergio Mattarella . "We had strong support," the president said in privacy; He hopes to continue adding support from European countries.