A provincial deputy from La Libertad Avanza spread a provocative plan: to change the name of the CCK to Julio Argentino Roca

Agustín Romo, provincial deputy elected by La Libertad Avanza in the Province of Buenos Aires, came out on Monday with a provocative proposal about one of the emblematic buildings of the City of Buenos Aires: he proposed renaming the CCK, the Kirchner Cultural Center, as "Julio Argentino Roca".

He did so through a message on Twitter, the social network now known as X, when the libertarian celebrations for Javier Milei's triumph in the presidential runoff did not cease.

"For me, the CCK should be called Julio Argentino Roca," Romo tweeted, short and forceful, faithful to the verb with which he sowed personal fame as a provocateur on the social network of the former little bird.

Carlos Agustín Romo Ortega is one of the figures of La Libertad Avanza who was denounced by Alberto Fernández in mid-October for maneuvers in the foreign exchange market in the face of the declineof the blue dollar. In addition, as an accessory fact, he is the great-nephew of Ramón "Palito" Ortega, popular singer, music producer and former governor of Tucumán in the nineties.

Agustín Romo poses in selfie mode with Javier Milei, on the Sunday of the victory in the second round. Photo: Twitter

The CCK was opened in May 2015, in the last months of Cristina Kirchner's second government. It is located in the historic building that used to be the Central Post Office, at 100 Sarmiento. It is a centre where national and international artists present and even serves as a venue for cultural events, such as exhibitions and conferences. His name was always debated because of his obvious partisan intentions.

Since its inauguration, the choice of the name caused a stir, with the reproach of a sector of the opposition for the proselytism implicit in the designation with the then presidential surname. During Mauricio Macri's mandate, it was considered to rename it and finally the idea of using the acronym CCK was installed.

Romo served as director of Digital Communications at La Libertad Avanza, with the expertise that years of racy tweets gave him. From the official and unofficial accounts of the space, he contributed to the growth of the libertarian party and to his own reputation, which allowed him to climb to a seat in the Buenos Aires Legislature.

The Kirchner Cultural Center, illuminated with the patriotic colors, in October 2017. Photo: Martin Bonetto

Hence, perhaps, the appeal to a surname resisted by Kirchnerism and a sector of national progressivism. Julio Argentino Roca led the so-called "Conquest of the Desert" in which native peoples of Patagonia and the Pampas Region died. His critics went so far as to call for the removal of his Buenos Aires monument, on Diagonal Sur.

Counter-proposals and a gas option

However, Romo's proposal did not meet with unanimous acceptance, even among his followers.

"CCC. Calamaro Cultural Center," countered Erica García, a musician, occasional TV host turned financial specialist, former partner of guitarist Ricardo Mollo and libertarian supporter until the runoff. She wasn't naïve either: Andrés Calamaro was one of the artists who, in the middle of a tour of Argentina, declared his support for Javier Milei before the second round of elections.

For me, the CCK should be called Julio Argentino Roca.

— Agustín Romo (@agustinromm) November 20, 2023

Although García also pointed out a possible problem if Roca were to be named to the cultural center bordering the Lower Buenos Aires. "It's very confusing, people are going to go to the Roca train," he distrusted the public of the current CCK and, at the same time, the users of the railway system that goes south of Greater Buenos Aires.

"Centro cultural Doctor René Favaloro," replied another follower, in a series of responses that included other illustrious names in Argentine culture, science and art: "It should be called the Borges Cultural Center," like the one that already exists in Galerías Pacífico; Alberdi Cultural Center, after the favorite hero of the "libertarian liberals"; "Astor Piazzolla, hard bench"; or "Carlos Gardel".

There was no lack of those who, riding the libertarian wave, spoke out for Domingo Cavallo's former spokesman and former LLA's shipowner, displaced when the influence of the PRO increased: "Kikuchi Cultural Center." So as not to lose the current initials.

DS