Sergio rubin
09/19/2021 5:35 PM
Clarín.com
Politics
Updated 9/19/2021 5:35 PM
During the week of maximum tension in the relationship between Alberto Fernández and Cristina Kirchner, rumors circulated about an alleged intervention by the Pope in favor of one or another sector, one or another minister. For example, it was said that Francisco had contacted the vice president to ask her
not to fire up the departure of Martín Guzmán from the Ministry of Economy
. But none of that happened according to ecclesiastical sources. Yes, instead, there was an
indirect intervention by the pontiff that confirmed his icy relationship with the President.
It was through a pronouncement by the Archbishop of La Plata,
Víctor Manuel Fernández -his closest bishop-, who after the PASO came out to harshly criticize the President
for having promoted
legalization
in the middle of the pandemic and in the midst of the deepening social crisis.
abortion
- among other issues - instead of addressing the peremptory needs of the poor and the middle class. Which, in his opinion, largely explains the electoral setback of the ruling party.
Nobody believes in the ecclesiastical media that "Tucho" - such is his nickname - launched the questioning without -at least- Francisco's green light. He is also the one who best interprets it and has the privilege of intervening in the drafting of papal documents, since Francis recognizes his intellectual level and his quality as a theologian. On the other hand, it is not the first time that he goes out into the ring to establish or clarify a position in line with papal thinking.
In fact, he was the first to criticize from the Church the opportunity to treat the abortion legalization project, as Francisco thought.
The Government said that it was a campaign promise from Alberto F., but the bishops replied that the pandemic had broken out in the middle.
"At least we must recognize that it was not the right moment nor was that the most pressing need," said Tucho in a column published in the newspaper La Nación.
The disappointment in the Argentine Church with the impulse that the President gave to the project was great. Above all, because Catholic institutions such as Cáritas or the villeros priests - who visited Alberto Fernández at the beginning of the pandemic and gave their support to the official health campaign (they even recorded a video together with the president) - contributed to alleviate the enormous food needs of many people in the midst of the health crisis.
The Pope added another reason to this disappointment: having tried - at the request of Alberto F. -
that the IMF was more understanding with the country in the renegotiation of the debt
(Francisco has a very fluid relationship with its head, Georgieva, a practicing Christian ). To make matters worse,
from the Casa Rosada they spread the unfounded version that the Pope wanted the project to be voted on as soon as possible and the page turned.
But Alberto Fernandez did not seem to understand how far the bond with the Church and the Pope himself had deteriorated.
In fact, in the framework of a tour that he plans to carry out in Europe in May to ask for support in the face of the debt renegotiation, he requested an audience with the Pope, despite the fact that the Vatican tried to discourage him because this is an electoral year.
The result was a brief and cold meeting with the pontiff.
The truth is that today, in the middle of the fight with Cristina Kirchner, a support from the Pope of the type “you have to help Cristina” would have been good for the President.
Of course, she - also in this aspect - showed greater political capacity.
After the election of Jorge Bergoglio as pontiff, he put aside his resentment and sought his support.
Although he made the mistake of making an abusive political use of the link.
In any case, the discomfort of the Pope and the Church in the face of the fight in the ruling party in the midst of the serious situation in the country
points to both Alberto and Cristina.
In case there was any doubt, the president of the Episcopal Conference -which brings together all the bishops-, Monsignor
Oscar Ojea, regretted on Friday that in this dispute "power is discussed, not where we are going, not a national project."
Beyond the billing for the abortion law that constitutes the article (written before the conflict between Alberto F. and the vice president broke out), Monsignor Fernández makes it clear that what is important is the situation of the people.
For this reason, he tells the President that he still has time to review his agenda of priorities "to avoid a debacle that ends up damaging our people even more."
And he concludes prophetically:
"Our people are generous and capable of giving another chance to those who know how to go back in their footsteps and get back on track."
Who would not forgive the President for the misstep of the Olivos party if they had felt him closer to his real problems? "
