MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

CFK warns Moyano on “blackmailing” and attacking the economic model

CFK: “I’m not dying to be president again”

Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner insisted on Thursday that she “is not dying to be president again” but also sent a scathing message targeting organized labour rejecting ‘blackmailing’ and any attempts to bring down the (economic) model.

“I’m not dying to be president again. I have already given my all. They won’t chase me that way” Mrs Kirchner said addressing a considerable rally that showed up at the presentation of the “Medium-sized Businessmen Program”, in western Greater Buenos Aires district of José C. Paz.

As is happening every time the Argentine president adopts what seems an ambiguous strategy about her future aspirations which keeps followers on alert and under control, the audience responded with chants asking for her re-election.

Likewise, the president sent a straight message to the powerful CGT Labour Confederation boss Hugo Moyano, who (through his son) has been claiming for salary hikes and personally for greater political participation for organized labour in the coming elections, including one of his most trusted advisors as the running mate (Vice-president) of Mrs Kirchner.

Moyano’s son who is in charge of the teamsters' union has repeatedly threatened with paralyzing Argentina if not granted the pay raises and Moyano Sr organized a massive political rally to celebrate Labour Day, with an estimated attendance of 300.000 (faithful) in downtown Buenos Aires demanding the re-election of Mrs Kirchner.

“This government’s model wants to keep bringing better working conditions and salaries for all workers, but we must also take care of some other sectors” said Mrs. Kirchner who emphasized “I do not want to see any blackmailing”.

“When a union only cares about its own interests and the interests of its affiliates, these attitudes end harming the whole society. It then ceases to be a union to become a corporation”, warned the Argentine leader.

“When I see sectors that are well off, that have good salaries and whose leaders subject us to practices that harm themselves, they only bring disrepute to the whole organized labour movement”, added Mrs. Kirchner.

Further on the Argentine president said “I want to talk openly and sincerely because I’m tired of those who say they want to help and the following day are doing exactly the opposite so the whole thing collapses”.

“There are some who believe they can better the (economic-social inclusion) model and that they have the sufficient power to wield minds into disrupting the model” said Mrs. Kirchner. “I’m not dying to be president again and mind you, I’m doing an enormous personal and physical effort to keep going”.

The president also remembered her late partner and former president Néstor Kirchner and stated that “We’ve both done more than anyone has ever done before in terms of defending the working class and fighting poor working conditions. We are the ones that recovered the collective bargains”.

This is not the firs time Cristina Fernandez has clashed with organized labour as October’s presidential election approaches. Last Tuesday during an official act at Government House (Casa Rosada) she called for less insistence on her re-election and “for things to be solved without the need of appealing to pressures”.

Although Mrs. Kirchner has not announced her re-election bid in spite of the encouraging opinion polls, if she wants to consolidate her power and expectations she is forced to take distance from the discredited Moyano and organized labour that only help to scare the middle of the road vote.