The governor of Corrientes,
Gustavo Valdés
, came out in defense of
“federalism”
and asked for
“resources”
for the development of the provinces in the midst of the strong dispute that broke out on Friday between his counterpart from Chubut, Ignacio “Nacho” Torres and President
Javier Milei
for co-participation funds.
Valdés made statements in the Corrientes town of Yapeyú, within the framework of the anniversary of the birth of José de San Martín, which was attended by the vice president,
Victoria Villarruel.
Before her
, and in an act filled with military protocol, the provincial leader took the opportunity to remember that
the governors want to help the Government,
but they need
funds to be transferred to the districts.
“It is time to deepen the postulates of the National Constitution,
we need more republic and more federalism,”
Valdés insisted and added that the provinces of the Norte Grande need “
resources to generate development and essential services
such as security and education to bridge the gaps.”
Valdés was the first governor to speak publicly after the strong
confrontation between Torres and the President from Chubut
through the media and social networks, which continued this Sunday.
The Patagonian demands – with the support of all his peers except the Tucumán Peronist Osvaldo Jaldo - who had already shown himself to be very close to Milei - that the Nation does not keep part of the co-participating funds for the collection of a debt that his predecessor took ,
the massista Mariano Arcioni
, and instead be allowed to issue a bond to settle it.
The radical Corrientes maintained that
“the majority of Argentines voted for the change”
with the aim of “returning hope to Argentines.”
José Francisco de San Martín guided and inspired many peoples: from #Yapeyú, thanks to his courage, his fight, his patriotism, he bequeathed us a free America.
246 years after his birth, the commemorative events were presided over by the Vice President of the Nation, @VickyVillarruel.
pic.twitter.com/VvNukP5hOg
— Gustavo Valdés (@gustavovaldesok) February 25, 2024
In this context, and with the figure of San Martín as an excuse, he sent a message to Milei in relation to the dispute he had with the provinces in the last few hours: “We must fight for fraternal unity and we must recover the Sanmartinian courage to
get the country forward by negotiating
and agreeing and
not digging our cracks
.”
Corrientes was the only province to which the President traveled since he took office on December 10.
He did it just a week ago, when he participated in the 10th anniversary of the Libertad Foundation,
a liberal organization
with which he had collaborated since before entering politics.
At that time, the governor
received Milei at the airport
, was present during his speech, but could not arrange a work meeting with him.
Now, from Yapeyú and with Villarruel present, Valdés took the opportunity to list the highlights that Corrientes has to contribute to the development of the country.
“We have a fiscal balance and
with the lowest tax burden in Argentina
and that gives us good results,” he said.
The governor of Corrientes, Gustavo Valdés, at the ceremony for San Martín in Yapeyú.
Along the same lines, he said that the province has “a lot to contribute to the Nation” and that as Corrientes they are always willing to do so.
“But that alone is not enough
, we need the national government to do well,” remarked Valdés accompanied by his deputy governor, Pedro Braillard Poccard.
Gustavo Valdés wants Victoria Villarruel as an interlocutor
Among the governors there is a complaint about the lack of interlocutors with the Nation who are authorized to make decisions.
In this framework,
Valdés built a bridge with Villarruel
, who has shown herself from his place in the Senate to be more willing to dialogue and diplomacy.
She asked her to be an “ambassador” for his requests.
“We have historical claims and we need to have greater development,” she told him.
Gustavo Valdés and Victoria Villarruel participated in a new anniversary of the birth of José de San Martín in the town of Yapeyú.
The governor presented as an example the situation of a 15-kilometer highway, which connects, among others, the Corrientes airport with the city.
“We have a highway of only 15 km and
we have two national governments and the work is still to be seen
,” he remarked.
Finally, he called on Argentines to have “concord and unity” because, he considered, “the challenge is too great to do so disunited and the country needs us all.”
D.S.