MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Malvinas and the ‘Gallegos’ (Spaniards) always get the blame” in Argentina

According to Spain’s ABC the forecast was announced by PM Cameron to President Rajoy

“Malvinas and the Spaniards (‘gallegos’) are always to blame” warned UK PM David Cameron to his peer Mariano Rajoy when they met in London over a month ago to talk bilateral issues and the growing irritation caused to both countries by Argentina with its claims over Falklands’ sovereignty and natural resources.

Spain and Spanish corporations have become hostages of the “extreme nationalists” which are rapidly locking in the Argentine government of President Cristina Fernandez, points out the Spanish media in an article referred to the ongoing clash over the oil corporation Repsol-YPF investments.

According to finance columnist Jose Antonio Navas from the conservative daily ABC printed in Madrid, “the Argentine president has ignored King Juan Carlos requests for collaboration on the issue and Argentine ministers from the financial area systematically refuse to negotiate or even talk with the emissaries sent by President Mariano Rajoy”

The article lists the Spanish companies in Argentina, Repsol, Telefónica, Endesa, Gas Natural and Prisa and warns that “the government of Cristina Fernandez is sliding into a radical self victimization which tries to blame Argentina’s endemic problems to the make up of distant phantoms rescued for the occasion”.

“The UK is getting the brunt of the attacks, but it won’t be long when you will be exposed to the same consequences” allegedly PM Cameron anticipated to President Rajoy in the article with the heading “The Spanish (Gallegos) hostages from Cristina Kirchner’s Montoneros paddock”.

At the time of the meeting in London Argentine coast guard vessels were chasing Spanish flagged trawlers with Falklands’ government fishing licences for allegedly catching illegally in Argentine waters.

In South America the Spanish immigrants are identified as “Gallegos” because so many of them came from Galicia. Montoneros is the guerrilla movement of the seventies inspired in Peronism with a blend of Marxism which challenged the Argentine military governments. Some of them hold relevant posts in the current government of Cristina Fernandez and new generations with ultra nationalist and contrary to free trade ideas are believed to have an increasing influence in her administration.

The ABC column also argues that Argentine officials refuse point blank to discuss business issues because the “the enclosure of ‘progressive’ Montoneros behind the fetish of La Campora organization have subdued Casa Rosada (Government House) imposing the ideals of autarchy as the only solution to the crisis that devours Argentina”.

La Campora is the political youth organization launched by former President Nestor Kirchner and which is now in the hands of son Maximo Kirchner and receives generous funds and posts from her mother’s administration.

Nestor and Cristina Kirchner have praised the Montoneros movement in its historic moment, but at that time the K couple was making money as successful solicitors in the homes repossession business and beginning in politics, with no questioning or interference from the military, well away from the Buenos Aires battle ground, in the extreme south province of Santa Cruz.

After criticizing the economic situation of Argentina the article points out that “the threat of General Winter (southern hemisphere) has forced a smoke screen to hide shameful actions from an arbitrary presidentialism favoured by what Friedrich Hayek describes as plebiscitary democracy”.

“Now that is the time of declining (stats) curves, what better than blame sitting duck Repsol oil corporation, an outside enemy and a perfect alibi to inflame the nationalist spirit and prevent those changes that could alter the vote of support for the government”, adds ABC.