The Chamber of Deputies hosted the Legislative Assembly that consecrated Javier Milei and Victoria Villarruel as President and Vice President, the libertarians took all the flashes, received requests for selfies, many congratulations, but one of the men who sounds to preside over the Lower House, was not present. Florencio Randazzo, in the midst of a battle with Cristian Ritondo to occupy the highest place in the Chamber of Deputies, gave two reasons for his absence.
With the negotiation open by the presidency of the Chamber and with Cristina Kirchner's approval for Kirchnerism to vote for the authorities proposed by La Libertad Avanza, the first argument given by Juan Schiaretti's former vice-presidential candidate was that he had a medical appointment that he could not suspend.
Randazzo's shares are still firm, and even rise since officials of the still governor of Cordoba join the national cabinet such as Osvaldo Giordano, current Minister of Finance of Cordoba who will be in charge of ANSES. Also the case of Franco Mogetta, Secretary of Transport of Cordoba, who was proposed for the same position at the national level.
But there was one more reason for Randazzo's absence, who a few days ago whitewashed a public support for Milei with a message on social media alongside his former running mate. "With Juan Schiaretti we believe that the future is to help in governability and that it is necessary to work for a democratic, federal Peronism in tune with the problems that Argentines have," Randazzo said a day before the Legislative Assembly.
Those close to the Peronist leader of Chivilcoy say that Randazzo's strategy was not to add "noise" to the dance of speculation about the future authorities of the Chamber of Deputies.
"What happened today was more formal, but next week will be defined by the authorities of the Chamber," sources close to the former vice presidential candidate told Clarín.
With @JSchiaretti we believe that the future is to help in governability and that it is necessary to work for a democratic, federal Peronism in tune with the problems that Argentines have. pic.twitter.com/F7vwKahXeQ
— Florencio Randazzo (@RandazzoF) November 28, 2023
One of those who had promoted Randazzo is the elected deputy of Tucumán, Ricardo Bussi, who showed a photo with the former Minister of Transport.
"With Florencio Randazzo (perhaps, future President of the Lower House) we evaluated the composition of the Chamber and the certain possibilities of having the support of Deputies from outside our political space. Consensus and agreements will be important to ensure that each of Javier's campaign promises is fulfilled to the letter," Bussi said.
That photo earned Randazzo criticism from his former colleagues in the legislative bloc in the House of Representatives. "We don't want to get together with the caste that is dividing up positions," said Graciela Camaño, while Alejandro "Topo" Rodriguez also criticized him.
With @RandazzoF (perhaps, future President of the Lower House) we evaluated the composition of the Chamber and the certain possibilities of having the support of Deputies from outside our political space. Consensus and agreements will be important to ensure that each promise... pic.twitter.com/6QRf3SisJO
— Ricardo Bussi (@ricardobussi) November 24, 2023
What Cristian Ritondo did
However, and unlike Randazzo, one of those who appears as his rival to preside over Deputies, Cristian Ritondo, of the PRO, did the opposite.
The former Minister of Security of María Eugenia Vidal attended the Legislative Assembly, took a photo with Milei and in several passages he was close.
Javier Milei and Cristian Ritondo in the Legislative Assembly that proclaimed the presidential ticket. Photo: Federico López Claro
On his way out, he declared in favor of the libertarian to the press: "It is a decision of Javier Milei, he is the one who decides who he proposes to represent him within Congress. I am committed to change, for the changes that are coming in Argentina, I asked for the vote for Javier Milei for the second round."
"Milei is risking governability if he is not Ritondo," PRO legislators urge. Although they admit that the libertarian "has the right to choose whomever he wants."
But just in case, they leave a warning: "If they leave us out, we would stay out of the cost of management and simply vote law by law. Those that we think so, we will accompany; the others, no."
DS