In the run-up to the closing of the lists, another strong internal discussion was unleashed in Together for Change, this time in the cradle of Kirchnerism. Due to differences over the advisability of incorporating Claudio Vidal, the oil unionist and national deputy with aspirations to govern Santa Cruz, the opposition coalition fails to align itself in that province and alarms are set off by the risk of a rupture.
As in other cases, the dispute between Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and Patricia Bullrich is reflected in the shooting over the electoral strategy in that district. The head of government promotes the agreement with Vidal, arguing that in this way there will be greater chances of achieving a victory that implies a hard blow to Kirchnerism.
The former Minister of Security, on the other hand, agrees with the radicalism in the rejection of the trade unionist as an ally of the Frente de Todos in Congress. From that sector they point to Rodríguez Larreta for the risk of a new break.
The negotiations are taking place in a convoluted electoral scenario. Alicia Kirchner called the gubernatorial elections for August 13, coinciding with the national PASO. The people of Santa Cruz will vote on the same date for the primaries for president, senators, deputies and members of Parlasur, and at the same time the general ones for the Executive and the provincial legislators. The ballots will be separated and for governor there will be a law of Slogans.
Claudio Vidal, oil unionist, national deputy and candidate for governor of Santa Cruz.
The UCR and the PRO sector aligned with Bullrich are promoting radical deputy Roxana Reyes as their candidate for governor, and journalist Mario Markic could also compete. The discussion is whether or not to add Vidal to the Cambia Santa Cruz front.
"It can be three candidates or two if one merges with another. If we close ourselves, it is not enough. With a broad and generous arm, we have serious chances of winning the province," argued a shipowner from Rodríguez Larreta involved in the negotiations in the district, adding: "A triumph there, coinciding with the national PASO, is the beginning of the end of Kirchnerism. That's superior to any personal goal."
"The PRO is breaking the front, on Larreta's instruction. He is going to be responsible for Reyes losing the governorship," Bullrich said. Without agreement for the moment, there were crosses of communiqués.
"The parties that make up Cambia Santa Cruz reaffirm their willingness to work to transform the province by generating a new political and social model (...) We believe that it is not possible to establish electoral alliances that do not respect or respond to these objectives, that distort the original values that led us to work together," warned the radicals, socialism, the Civic Coalition and Citizen Encounter, members of the front.
"Today we have consolidated gubernatorial candidates who walk and channel the reality of our people. We believe that the only way to change this province is to try to dialogue with all those who want a different Santa Cruz," the PRO countered.
The radical deputy Roxana Reyes, pre-candidate for governor in Santa Cruz, with Soledad Carrizo and Karina Banfi.Photo: Federico López Claro.
Vidal, opponent or ally of Kirchnerism?
"Cambia Santa Cruz is in a position to win the election to Frente de Todos and the SER," Reyes told Clarín. SER is Vidal's party. Bullrich traveled to Caleta Olivia to meet with the radical deputy, Markic and Senator Eduardo Costa. For the Frente de Todos Alicia Kirchner did not confirm if she will go for re-election and as alternatives appear the mayors Pablo Grasso (Río Gallegos) and Javier Belloni (El Calafate).
A dispute broke out around Vidal over his links with Peronism. In 2019 he was a candidate for governor in a sub-slogan of the Frente de Todos and contributed to the triumph of Alicia Kirchner. In 2021 he presented himself on the outside with SER and got 28%, behind Reyes (35%) and above the official Gustavo González (27%). Radicalism intends to reissue this scenario.
"The SER is a party that always played with Kirchnerism. Four games out of five we say no. The discussion is closed. If they continue to insist, it is that they want to leave," they questioned from the UCR.
"In no way do we break the front, what we do not agree with is to close ourselves. In Congress, Vidal has sometimes voted with the government and sometimes with the opposition. It is not part of the Frente de Todos bloc or Kirchnerism in Santa Cruz. He has a very oppositional discourse and has done very well electorally," they replied close to Rodríguez Larreta.
As in the discussions over the failed armed forces in Tierra del Fuego and Salta, the bills between the sectors of the two presidential candidates are repeated. Bullrich blames the breaks on his rival (also for the case of Omar de Marchi in Mendoza) and Rodríguez Larreta accuses the former Minister of Security of privileging the UCR over the PRO based on an agreement with an eye on the PASO.
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