"If we resolve the Fund but lose against inflation, we will not be fulfilling the commitment we assumed in 2019," said Sergio Massa just 14 months ago from the presidency of Deputies that he still exercised. The agreement with the IMF was resolved, although it is being discussed again; inflation continues to win, but the now economy minister is already talking and moving as a presidential candidate, although he does not finish explaining that this is his wish.
In private, there are many leaders of Peronism who assure that Massa would be willing to compete as long as there is no PASO and his candidacy emerges from the consensus of the majority sectors of the Frente de Todos. CGT leaders claim to have heard it from the minister's mouth and have already publicly bowed to their chances.
The minister for now fulfills the first part of the mandate and horada the PASO. "This thing of settling in a primary if the government has differences seems to me a very serious mistake," Massa said at Tuesday's meeting of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the Plaza Hotel.
The Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa. Photo: Juano Tesone
The statement generated a stir inside the ruling party. Less than 24 hours later, he reiterated the concept. "Those of us who govern have to demonstrate how we solve the problems of the present and how we design the future, and not waste time and sterile internal ones that only solve political vanities," he said in an affirmation that sincerely recognizes Massa's centrality in the Executive and gives him the tone of a candidate.
The Ghost of Milei
Close to the Minister of Economy they translate his words more harshly. "Sergio left now, because he sees that they are wasting their time in, with personal candidacies, while Together for Change collapses and (Javier) Milei grows. It is necessary to order the ruling party to leave JxC as something marginal. If we win the PASO with 30 points we are competitive," they said very close to the Tigrense.
Sergio Massa, in a meeting with Javier Milei in Deputies.
His assertion was not accidental. The ruling party discusses indoors whether or not there should be internal competition. Behind the operative clamor for Cristina Kirchner, the candidate of the ruling party that measures the most, the idea is imposed that the Vice President is the great voter to anoint a consensus candidate and avoid the primaries, as Clarín published.
From the Instituto Patria, contradictory messages emanate. Several of the interlocutors who frequent it insist that, strictly speaking, it has long been chosen and defined that if the economy improves, it would be unquestionably Massa's time.
The problem, of course, is that so far the economy shows no signs of improving. For some leaders who militate in the massismo, three-digit year-on-year inflation does not take away (completely) sleep and optimism. They argue that the same surveys that reveal rising prices as one of society's two biggest concerns also reveal that almost no one believes it can go down substantially overnight. "And the truth is that no one can blame Sergio," they point out in the FR. Hopelessness as hope.
Massa's voice to avoid the PASO joins that of other important leaders of the FDT, who took note – as in the opposition – that the only force that grows is the one that does not have an internal rival to pierce it: Javier Milei. The thesis of emulating competitive PASO like those of JxC in 2021 loses strength.
Meeting postponed and Scioli asks for clue
Massa postponed the meeting of the Renewal Front until the PJ Congress takes place next Tuesday in Ferro. "Let's see what defines Peronism," they argue. The stakes are split. Among those who push the operative clamor for CFK do not expect urgent definitions. Massa, meanwhile, rushed to position himself almost immediately as a candidate.
At the same forum at the Plaza Hotel, the minister's close enemy, Daniel Scioli, defended his right to compete. "Why do I think the PASO is very important? Because I want very clearly not to be elected in a political meeting between four walls. I don't want this in any way," insisted the ambassador to Brazil, although Florencio Randazzo could recall that this is how the then governor was anointed in 2015.
Sergio Massa and Daniel Scioli in July last year. Photo: Enrique García Medina
Increasingly alone, with Alberto Fernández stepping aside a candidacy, the president and his closest ministers, such as Victoria Tolosa Paz, Agustín Rossi and Santiago Cafiero defend the implementation of the primaries. So does the camporista Eduardo "Wado" de Pedro, although he will square as his political boss commands.
The relationship between the president and his economy minister is going through one of its worst moments. Faced with each economic resentment, La Rosada's response is one. "Ask in Economics," they say. Deputy Chief of Staff Juan Manuel Olmos is the one who best understands Massa; He even has officials of his kidney under the orbit of the Tigrense.
As one Kirchnerist observes, the possibility that there is PASO or that CFK successfully transmits its votes to a dolphin is unknown. "Today we don't know how much Cristina's finger weighs," they reason. No one knows if all the aspirants would be willing to obey as they did so far.
The optimism of some leaders who talk to the Vice President about the chances of Peronism and Massa also result in foreign policy and are excited about support such as that of Joe Biden's administration to Lula's chances in Brazil, which adds to the tune of the Tigrean with an important sector of the red circle.
"Argentina has everything the world needs; only Peronism can guarantee that there is order so that there are works and exports leave," Massa said. Just in case, the minister avoided criticizing the Supreme Court for the rulings that did not allow the candidacies of Sergio Uñac and Juan Manzur.
The president was scheduled to visit Berazategui on Wednesday and Escobar on Thursday. Neither of the two invitations has been granted so far by Axel Kicillof. The governor preferred to inaugurate a gas pipeline with the Minister of Economy, in the town of America and later show himself with the head of ANSES, the camporista Fernanda Raverta. The provincial president, who embraces the possibility of shielding his candidacy for re-election in Buenos Aires from those who want to promote him for a presidential adventure, has long found an ally in the aspirations of the economy minister.
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