MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Kirchner and Moyano have been partners since day one” blasts Buenos Aires mayor

Mauricio Macri, Buenos Aires City mayor and until a few days ago when he stepped down, presidential hopeful

The mayor of Buenos Aires City Mauricio Macri blasted Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and assured that despite her recent criticism towards CGT Labour Confederation leader Hugo Moyano “the Government and him have been partners since day one”.

Macri also accused President Cristina Fernandez of “confusing the population” by linking her current health state to her struggle with the unions.

“Hugo Moyano has been the Government’s partner since day one” he stated, adding that the partnership “could directly affect the Argentine population and social peace due to the excessive amount of power he has been allowed to wield.”

Macri insisted that President Cristina Fernandez behaviour is “confusing, since there are too many rumours flying around regarding her current health state”, which raised concerns after it was announced she would not be flying to Paraguay to attend the country’s bicentenary celebrations under doctor’s orders.

The first warning of the President’s frustration was visible last Thursday, when, during a speech, she accused unions of “behaving like corporations”.

“She asks for more support, but she was never open to dialogue. She never wanted to discuss anything, not even the last budget” Macri complained.

Last week President Cristina Fernandez speaking from Government House said “I’m not dying to be president again and mind you, I’m doing an enormous personal and physical effort to keep going”. Mrs. Kirchner added she would “not tolerate any blackmailing”.

Before that the Argentine president had warned organized labour to stop pressing her to run for re-election and concentrate in pressing for disputes to be solved peacefully taking care to respect the interests of the rest of the community.

Meanwhile Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández following on the presidential message denounced the unions and criticized the oil workers’ conflict, the teachers’ protest in Santa Cruz and the strikes of Aerolíneas Argentinas airline.

Anibal Fernández questioned the unions and said if they were “aware of the game they are playing.”

The cabinet chief assured that “what’s happening in the South (Patagonia) with the oil workers and the teachers, what happens with Aerolineas Argentinas, where there is no respect for the people is because they are discussing the situation of seven persons”.

The cabinet chief said “let’s hope there is a return to common sense, and an end to these abusive situations”.