In chorus, whether grouped by region, by electoral alliance or with solo messages, all the country's governors came out to support
Ignacio "Nacho" Torres
de
Chubut
in his demand for co-participation funds against the Government of
Javier Milei
.
However, in the concert of support, the silence of the Peronist
Osvaldo Jaldo
, from
Tucumán
, who did not speak out on the conflict and the
agreements for sugar and bioethanol
reappear in the score, is stunning .
The fight between the governors and the Milei government had several chapters but on Friday it escalated with Torres' fiery speech at an event in Comodoro Rivadavia organized by the Private Oil and Gas Union of Chubut in defense of the Hydrocarbon Industry and Labor in the San Jorge Gulf Basin.
"We give the national government time until Wednesday. If they don't get the paw off of us on Wednesday, not one more barrel of oil will come out of Chubut for Argentina," said Torres.
He then issued a statement signed by the rest of the governors of Patagonia.
Torres was accompanied with their signatures by the Peronist governors Gustavo Melella (Tierra del Fuego) and Sergio Ziliotto (La Pampa);
and the rest of the leaders of the region Claudio Vidal (Santa Cruz);
Rolando Figueroa (Neuquén);
and Alberto Weretilneck (Río Negro).
A few hours later, support arrived from the governors grouped in Together for Change, the electoral alliance that exploded in Congress but that the provincial leaders keep afloat.
"The governors of Together for Change express our full support and support for the governor of Chubut Ignacio Torres in this difficult moment that the people of Chubut are going through. The National Government must comply with the Constitution and urgently send the shared resources that belong to it the province. Not complying with the law and the agreements between the Nation and the provinces does not affect the governors but the 50 million Argentines who live in the 24 jurisdictions of the country," the text says.
It was signed by Jorge Macri (CABA), Rogelio Frigerio (Entre Ríos), the radicals Leandro Zdero (Chaco), Gustavo Valdés (Corrientes), Carlos Sadir (Jujuy), Alfredo Cornejo (Mendoza), Maximiliano Pullaro (Santa Fe, and the allies Claudio Poggi (San Luis) and Marcelo Orrego (San Juan).
The governors of Together for Change express our full support and support for the governor of Chubut @NachoTorresCH in this difficult moment that the people of Chubut are going through.
The National Government must
comply with the Constitution and urgently send resources… pic.twitter.com/byJ8vKtdxU
— Rogelio Frigerio (@frigeriorogelio) February 23, 2024
The Peronists from the North also expressed themselves.
"I share the expressions and warnings of my fellow Governors of Patagonia: without federalism, the Argentine Republic does not exist as such. No surplus is sustainable if it is achieved by failing to comply with legal obligations towards the people and the provinces," said
Gildo Insfrán
. of
Formosa
.
Also from Rioja,
Ricardo Quintela
, who remarked: "My solidarity with Torres and with the people of Chubut, who, like La Rioja, are unjustly suffering from the illegal retention of funds that legitimately belong to them and that are established by law. We renew the demand to "the Nation to urgently unblock the funds unjustly withheld from our province and we remind the president that the cruelty against the governors only affects the needs of Argentines."
Another who supported Torres de Chubut was
Gustavo Sáenz
from Salta , who during the week had received the Minister of the Interior, Guillermo Francos.
"Salta has been providing gas and oil to the country for almost 80 years. Today we provide grain, meat and so many industries. Let us not forget that the provinces precede the Nation, this country was born from the provinces and not the other way around. The productive interior "sustains and sustained this country and will promote reactivation. With humility, I once again call for a great National Agreement. Dialogue, consensus and respect are synonymous with Democracy. In difficult times, maturity, temperance, humility, greatness and prudence are needed," stated the man from Salta.
THE UNITED PROVINCES OF THE SOUTH
The provinces are pre-existing to the Nation and deserve respect.
No one can subjugate them or extort them with threats of restriction of public funds that belong to them by right.
In February the national government illegally detained us… pic.twitter.com/Qq2mJcW3W8
— Nacho Torres (@NachoTorresCH) February 23, 2024
Although moderate, the Peronist
Raúl Jalil
(Catamarca) supported Torres: "Catamarca also considers that the Provinces are pre-existing. It is through the Provinces that the Nation was formed and it is their resources that the Nation receives and administers. Firm dialogue is necessary to find solutions and leave confrontations behind. In Salta we spoke with Minister Franco and we know that we can find common points. The governors know that Argentina is built from unity, solidarity and the equitable effort of each province."
Another who expressed himself was
Axel Kicillof
(Buenos Aires): "Our solidarity with the people of Chubut. All provinces are being subjected to this “extortion” and the cutting of funds. It is not, as Milei maintains, against the governors but against the people of the provinces".
And
Martín Llaryora
from Córdoba, who has been in conflict with the Casa Rosada for several weeks: "From the heart of Argentina, my solidarity with the federal claim of the Patagonian governors. The country needs dialogue, consensus and respect to get out of this tremendous crisis" .
From the heart of Argentina, my solidarity with the federal claim of the Patagonian governors.
The country needs dialogue, consensus and respect to get out of this tremendous crisis. @NachoTorresCH @Rolo_Figueroa
@Weretilneck @ZiliottoSergio @gustavomelella @ClaudioVidalSer pic.twitter.com/WqyRVgCQqO
— Martín Llaryora (@MartinLlaryora) February 23, 2024
One who did not express himself but other leaders understand that he will soon join is Hugo Passalacqua of Misiones, who on Friday after noon appeared before the Supreme Court to request an injunction for the immediate collection of the funds owed that correspond to Misiones in the framework of laws 25,053 (FONID) and 26,075 (National Connectivity and Wage Guarantee).
Jaldo, the Tucumán deputies and the agreements for sugar and bioethanol
Osvaldo Jaldo, the Peronist who came to power in Tucumán after an agreement with the former governor and current national senator
Juan Manzur
, had already shown signs of obedience to the Casa Rosada.
Guillermo Francos, Minister of the Interior and the governor of Tucumán Osvaldo Jaldo.
At the end of January, when the Chamber of Deputies was discussing the failed omnibus bill, Jaldo surprised with his approach to the government of Javier Milei, which resulted in the breakup of three Tucumán deputies from the Unión por la Patria bloc.
A few days later, Jaldo issued a statement about a commercial agreement with Javier Milei.
"The province was able to agree with the National Executive Branch on issues related to the Sugar Law and bioethanol, in defense of the regional economies of Tucumán," the statement said.
"There is no longer any danger that we will have to import sugar from other countries that subsidize the activity. Regarding biofuels, he said: “bioethanol chapter, it has been modified and it needs some tweaks because there are many parts involved," Jaldo stated at that time, and thus anticipated how his deputies would vote.
"When the country is in danger, we have to get rid of party and personal differences. I got rid of them. Therefore, I am going to defend the interests of the province, no matter what it costs us; our deputies are going to vote for our regional economies," Jaldo anticipated.
Agustín Fernández, Gladys Medina and Elia Fernández, who respond directly to the provincial leader, created the new block which they named "Independencia."
Not only did they vote in favor of the law in general, but they later approved all the articles in particular until the ruling party withdrew the project and sent it back to committee.