- Title: Argentina government deadlocked as uncertainty hangs over cabinet
- Date: 17th September 2021
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLITICAL ANALYST, FACUNDO NEJAMKIS, SAYING: "It is unthinkable for Argentina that Peronism is discussing whether or not to achieve governability. They are looking for a chess-like solution that would consist of an exchange of figures. The president will sacrifice some of his pieces and the vice-president will have to sacrifice some of hers. But the successful electoral coalition that led them to the government in 2019 is mortally wounded. A new government will come, and we will have to see what characteristics it has, not a new government because there will be elections, but a new president, even if it is the same one, with other strengths and weaknesses. We have to see how he leads the next two years; that will be difficult because he will probably not reach a majority in Congress and the Senate. The opposition obviously comes out strengthened from all this situation."
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2021 00:52
- Keywords: President Alberto Fernandez Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner elections politics
- Location: BUENOS AIRES / ALMIRANTE BROWN, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA / INTERNET
- City: BUENOS AIRES / ALMIRANTE BROWN, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA / INTERNET
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA007EV3Z9ZB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Argentina's government remained mired in uncertainty on Friday (September 17), with President Alberto Fernandez yet to decide the fate of rebel ministers who tendered their resignations earlier in the week, sparking a political crisis.
Amid frenzied speculation from political commentators and local media over ruptures in the ruling Peronist coalition, Fernandez took part, as planned, in a virtual climate forum convened by U.S. President Joe Biden.
Center-left President Fernandez has been fighting against a cabinet revolt from ministers allied with the hard-left wing of his party since a bruising defeat in a midterm primary election last Sunday put the government's grip on Congress at risk.
Divisive but powerful Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Thursday night lashed out at what she said were errors made by the government, sharpening tensions between the moderate faction around President Fernandez and her more militant supporters.
The electoral blow left the party stuck between two paths: Deepening populist policies to ease conditions for hard-hit Argentines or a more moderate approach to lure back middle-class voters who rallied behind the conservative opposition.
On Wednesday, several ministers, including the interior minister, tendered their resignations to Fernandez, though he has yet to publicly accept or reject them.
On Thursday night the president and Fernandez de Kirchner both went on the offensive. In a public letter, she called for a shake-up of the ministries and slammed a shortfall in public spending.
The president on Twitter said that he would be the one to determine the future of the government.
"The administration of the government will continue to develop in the way that I deem appropriate. For that I was elected," he said.
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