MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

CFK breaks tradition with new cabinet; metro and trains free ride on Saturday

The Bicentennial Museum will host the ministers swear in ceremony

Breaking away from tradition Argentine President Cristina Fernández will swear in her second term Cabinet at the Bicentennial Museum in Buenos Aires, a ceremony that by custom has been held in the White Room at Government House, Casa Rosada.

CFK took the decision to hold the event Saturday evening at the museum that celebrates the ousting of the Spanish from Buenos Aires. At the inauguration of the museum earlier this year the President said that it belonged to “everyone” and that she hoped it would “unite all Argentines.”

On Tuesday, the CFK government revealed the makeup of the “new” Cabinet for the President’s second term, which remains largely unchanged from her first administration.

The lack of change indicates the Kirchnerite model will continue “along the same course” in the coming four years, as the President has repeatedly announced and argued in favour.
The ministerial ceremony at the museum will take place after the President is sworn in for her second term in office at the Senate alongside her vice-president elect and current Economy Minister, Amado Boudou. The presidential inauguration will be attended by the outgoing head of the Senate, Vice-President Julio Cobos, after considerable controversy was stirred up surrounding his attendance. Leading Kirchnerites called for Cobos, a Radical politician who has been out of favour with the government since the 2008 farmers’ tax dispute, not to attend the ceremony.

The White Room is the traditional spot where Argentine presidents have sworn in their new Cabinet and held a reception for foreign delegations. While the ministerial swearing-in ceremony will be now held at the museum, the president will meet and greet the foreign delegations sent to congratulate her for her successful re-election — which she secured in October with a historic landslide victory — at the Argentine Painters’ Room.

In related news, authorities said trains and subways will be free on Saturday inauguration day.

The Transport Secretary announced that people in the City of Buenos Aires and the metropolitan area will be able to travel free of charge on trains and subways on Saturday, due to Cristina Fernández inauguration ceremony.

The measure will be valid from 8 am to 12 pm Saturday December 10th, to make it easier for people to arrive to Plaza de Mayo, where the celebrations of Cristina Fernández inauguration will take place.