MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine vice president cheered by farmers at agro- show

Vice President Cobos with a “poncho” during his visit at the Rural Show

Argentine vice president Julio Cleto Cobos was cheered and congratulated during his surprise Tuesday visit to Argentina's main agriculture show in the Buenos Aires grounds of Palermo.

Cobos an obscure engineer which politics catapulted him to governor of Mendoza and later vice president, following an agreement with then president Nestor Kirchner, cast the decisive vote in the Argentine Senate which killed the Kirchner's administration controversial Resolution 125 increasing export taxes on oilseeds and grains. His vote contrary to the wishes of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner helped deactivate a four months long conflict with farmers that was plunged Argentina into a political crisis and had begun to extend to the economy. His vote made him an instant hero for farmers and Argentine public opinion who interpreted his independence and determination as an example of common sense which helped cool a threatening scenario of potential violence and chaos. Although Cobos visit took place in the closing day of the annual show which on this edition was more a rally because of the Kirchner's attitude of denying all official support or presence in the grounds, he was received by the top officials of the organizing institution, Argentine Rural Society and given a red carpet welcome. People congratulated him for his vote and wherever he went was cheered, hugged and kissed. The culminating point was possibly the moment he visited a Hereford bull, one of the best in the show that was nicknamed "Cleto" in honor of the vice president and his tie breaking vote. According to the Argentine press, sometimes imaginative, Cleto, originally Greek means the "illustrious", the "handpicked" for some great feat. "I think his visit must be interpreted as a conciliation gesture; it's very important, he had shown his open and committed soul when he cast his Senate vote", said Mario Llambías president of one of the farmers organizations behind the four months stand off with the government. However it is well known that vice president Cobos remains politically distanced from the Kirchners and "out of respect for the institutions", Mrs. Kirchner has abstained from depicting him as a "traitor" or "Judas", as her followers openly do.