The tension within the PRO after the exchange of statements between Patricia Bullrich and Horacio Rodríguez Larreta seems far from resolved. Although the former Minister of Security sought to slow down a little this Thursday in Pilar, in an act in which she presented all the candidates of her list "The Force of Change", she also left a strong message that seemed destined to her main internal adversary in the midst of the escalation that has them as protagonists.
"We are gathered to look forward. We don't want to talk anymore about those who are in healthy competition for the PASO. We no longer talk about those who criticize, who say what they want," Bullrich said in a brief exchange with the press present at a hotel in the Buenos Aires municipality.
Less than 24 hours had passed since the explosive battery of statements with which the former Minister of Security had been dispatched towards her political adversary. In a conversation with Clarín on Wednesday, Bullrich harshly hit the head of the Buenos Aires government, treating him as an "opportunist" and "advantageous" in order to "get a vote."
Bullrich's anger had arisen after Larreta raised in a radio interview that the proposals that the former head of the PRO transmitted were the same ones that had "failed" in the presidency of Mauricio Macri. "It seems to me of enormous moral turpitude, opportunism and lack of ethics that Larreta, who boasts of having worked 20 years with Macri, does anything to get a vote," snapped the pre-candidate for president.
After these sayings, from the larretismo they counterattacked with a request for Bullrich to stop with the "bravado". "You have to discuss ideas and end the low blows. To lead is not to shout," claimed leaders who accompany the presidential candidacy of the Buenos Aires mayor.
This Thursday in Pilar, surrounded by a large group of militants and some 300 leaders from all over the country, Bullrich gave a 30-minute speech, in which she avoided referring to Larreta, although she left a final message that seemed directed towards her PRO partner. "He who does not dare to make a change, stays on the sidelines," he warned bluntly.
Criticism of Massa
Bullrich focused her speech on a series of proposals of all kinds if elected, but dedicated several sections to criticism of Sergio Massa, the pre-candidate for president of Union for the Fatherland. "Kirchnerism goes from the decimated generation to the Massa solution, which leads us to hyperinflation," he said.
Subsequently, there was a ten-minute one-on-one with the media present. In it, Bullrich gave some more details of his short circuits with Larreta and directly tried to lower the tone a little to the tension. It was there when he spoke of "a healthy competition in the PASO" and warned that he will not make more mentions of his PRO rivals.
The pre-candidate for president of Together for Change, Patricia Bullrich, presented her candidates at the Pilar Palace complex. Photo Juano Tesone.
"Are you going to continue this verbal escalation with Larreta?" he was asked, to which he replied: "There is no verbal escalation." The former minister also spoke of possible electoral agreements in case of being elected president: "The agreements are always based on change, but change is not negotiated."
Bullrich also spoke of Kirchnerism. "It is a decision of the Government, which has as a formula an economy minister and the chief of staff of a government that they want to say is not theirs," she reflected, when asked if it was right for Massa and Agustín Rossi to continue in the positions they currently occupy.
"We are not going to put any impediment, but if they continue to do something for the benefit of the country, not what they are doing," he questioned them.
"A great economic team", Bullrich's promise
In addition, when asked about his economic team, he highlighted the figure of Luciano Laspina, national deputy of the PRO. "We are working with him, who is putting together a great economic team. We also have a permanent dialogue with the team of the Mediterranean Foundation, led by Carlos Melconian. And we spoke with the four foundations that coexist in Together for Change."
Among those present at the event was Néstor Grindetti, pre-candidate for governor of the province of Buenos Aires in a PASO in which he will face Diego Santilli, the chosen one of Horacio Rodríguez Larreta.
Grindetti said that he has a difference with his PRO counterpart: "There is a leadership in Patricia that assures me that what I am going to do will be accompanied by the national government." And he added: "I am seriously from Buenos Aires, 58 years ago I was born in the province, I know it and I was mayor of Lanús for eight years."
Among the main leaders present in Pilar were the pre-candidate for vice president Luis Petri, Ricardo López Murphy, Hernán Lombardi, Maximiliano Guerra, Franco Rinaldi, Cristian Ritondo and Maximiliano Abad, candidates for deputy and senator for the province of Buenos Aires.
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