MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Thousands of Argentine pickets camp in the world’s widest avenue

At stake are millions in funds and the political power they can generate

Thousands of members from Argentine picket organizations camped Monday night in the world’s widest avenue, 9 de Julio in the heart of Buenos Aires demanding the incorporation of other groupings to the government’s unemployment subsidy plans and family allowances.

Earlier in the day they caused chaos in the Argentine capital’s traffic marching through main avenues until camping outside offices from the Ministry of Social Development in demand to be heard about their complaints.

Basically the organizations want to continue managing the millions of handouts granted by the government to the unemployed, underemployed and families which have made some of the picket organizations formidable political forces.

With the Argentine government resources not so plentiful as when the economy was recovering and growing at “Chinese rates” and with the need to tighten political control, given the setback in recent mid term elections, it was decided that the distribution of the benefits would be done individually with a personal debt card thus avoiding the organizations.

When the subsidy plans were first implemented at the beginning of the Nestor Kirchner administration, the picket organizations helped the political standing of the government and as such were manipulated successfully in support.

But as the political power of Mr. and Mrs Kirchner has mellowed some of the organizations are proving not to be that loyal and are speculating about the future, which infuriated the ruling couple.

The new system however will tolerate the option of handing the benefits through the organization of “loyal” mayors from the sprawling outskirts of Buenos Aires whose network of power can help decide a provincial or a national election.

“We are well aware that when we started we had to appeal to social organizations to help us with the distribution of allowances but the government is now in perfect conditions to play that role”, argued cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez when asked about the protesting picketers.

“We are well aware that some organizations have been impeccable in the management of the funds and the subsidy plans, but others have coerced, abused, forcing people to picket or act in political marches”, added Fernandez who warned the government “is not going to yield”.

“We want the benefits extended to those members of cooperatives who have employment difficulties and want to avoid the mayors’ iron circle”, said Juan Pablo Noceli from one of the several picket organizations in the protest marches.

Picket organizations have anticipated they will “fight back” for their rights and will remain camped in the world’s widest avenue until at least Tuesday afternoon.