"There is general disbelief (with politics) and people are right, because the country's problems have been getting worse."
The radical deputy Martín Berhongaray warns him a few hours after having prevailed in the inmates of Together for Change in the province of La Pampa, which defined this Sunday the candidate for governor for the opposition coalition ahead of the elections on May 12 .
The elected candidate who will face Governor Sergio Ziliotto on May 12, who will seek re-election at the head of the PJ ticket, is the face of the triumph of a radicalism that wants to plant itself with a more leading role in the internal Juntos
por the Change
.
"It is a diverse, measured, and federal radicalism that has a lot to contribute," the leader remarked in an interview with
Clarín
.
After a month of intense campaigning, Berhongaray celebrated the victory this Sunday against the macrista Martín Maquieyra (56% to 43%) together with national leaders of the UCR, such as national senator Martín Lousteau of Evolución Radical and Facundo Manes.
And he assured that his victory means "a lot" for national radicalism: "It is the message of a revitalized party, which has stood up and has decided to redefine its role within Together for Change."
- What reading do you make of the result and the impact of the triumph of the UCR?
- It was an emotional day.
It stimulates us, but fills us with responsibility.
The country comes with many emergencies and many people who are having a hard time.
We feel the obligation to those who have less.
We were aware that it was going to transcend the borders of La Pampa.
It meant a lot to national radicalism.
It is the message of a revitalized party, which has set foot and has a vocation.
You have decided to redefine your role in the Together for Change coalition.
National politics
needs a party like radicalism, measured and with a history of defending values
such as honesty, rectitude, austerity and decency.
And what a bet on understandings.
A large sector demands that the trifles stop and the many emergencies that exist be resolved and I am convinced that they are not resolved with half of the people standing on one sidewalk and the other half in front.
- What will be the message in La Pampa to beat an officialism that has been in government for 40 years?
- We are going to point out the many results we had for La Pampa.
Better said than done.
We have to exhibit, in addition to a clean and honest track record, results and laws.
And show that we want to transform the province and modernize it.
- There was a quick recognition of your victory by Martín Maquieyra, the PRO candidate.
- Yes, it is a gesture that I value.
In the internal I said that we were not going to fall into disqualifications and grievances.
If we had to lose, we had to have the best spirit to accompany.
We hope and trust that they will.
- Gerardo Morales spoke of the need for crossed formulas. What do you think of that proposal?
- We tried consensus formulas and it could not be achieved.
It is an evaluation that is being done at the national level.
You have to explore it, always.
-
Emphasizes consensus.
But now the ruling party is advancing on the Supreme Court and the opposition proposes not giving a quorum in Congress.
How is this vocation reconciled with political tension?
- I am a person of dialogue but when it is necessary to be firm, I am absolutely firm.
With the issue of rivers (the Pampas problem), I raised the No to Portezuelo (a dam that would harm La Pampa) in solitude: there was no legislator, pro-government or opposition party to accompany me.
The same with the Casino Club (he opposed an irregular extension of the concession to the firm in the hands of Cristóbal López) and I denounced the business agreement for the distribution of homes among construction companies, without the support of the supporters themselves.
The issue of dialogue and consensus is in the understanding that we are not going to advance in the solutions of the problems that the country has.
I'm not the one to give lessons to anyone.
My convictions today are to work towards consensus to the extreme, so that there are results.
-
In these different visions of the sectors of the UCR and the PRO, how can the way of reaching agreements be improved?
- There is a coalition work table.
If it is because of the electoral, it is necessary to oil the dynamics.
In other jurisdictions, significant misintelligence in the armed forces is seen that it would be convenient to overcome and resolve in other ways.
-
Also programmatically, due to the ideological nuances between the two parties.
And where the economic proposal to the electorate has to be clear.
- It will have to be very humble.
Together for Change had the opportunity to offer solutions to economic emergencies (in the Government of Mauricio Macri) and they could not be resolved.
In this last management (by Alberto Fernández) many of these situations have worsened.
One has to move forward with the humility of recognizing that there are no magic formulas or simple things to achieve the objectives.
What exists are good diagnoses, correct strategies and serious work to generate strong accompaniment from most of the political spectrum.
This is what ends up giving consistency to the course that one defines in economic matters.
- Do you think that society is turning to the right, that there is a tiredness with the political class?
- It is evident that the leadership from some time ago to date fell into deep disrepute due to the lack of achievements.
There is widespread disbelief and the people are right, because the country's problems have worsened.
Not only in Argentina, but in other countries, the non-political options are on, with no more content than that slogan.
The political leadership itself has the responsibility to reverse this and find the answers that society is looking for.