MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine April inflation 2.16% and 23.45% in 12 months according to ‘Congress-index’
April inflation in Argentina averaged 2.16% accumulating 23.45% in the last twelve months, --more than double the official index-- according to the monthly release from opposition members of Congress based on information from private economic consultants. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesShe is addressing the issue, she's ignoring it and believing her own lies.
May 11th, 2012 - 05:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Patricia Bullrich again did not reveal the names of the private consultants which help with the “Congress-CPI” since they are exposed to sanctions and fines from the Interior Commerce Secretary”
May 11th, 2012 - 06:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0You see? use fear to silence your critics!! strangle the free press and only allow “Freedom of speach” When it's something you want to hear.
For “Argentina” please read “North korea” or “1937 Germany”
I think comparing Argentina to Nazi Germany or North Korea is a little far fetched. I don't agree with the mis-reporting of inflation figures (this is only being done so that the government doesn't have to pay out US$s on their inflation linked bonds) but, in general, freedom of the press in Argentina is good.
May 11th, 2012 - 09:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0@3 They're ranked 47th in Press Freedom, I'm not so sure that's good....
May 11th, 2012 - 10:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0Fair point, although generally freedom of speech is up-held and is worlds apart from North Korea or Nazi Germany. Interestingly, the massive hold that Clarin has on the media in Argentina is probably one of the main bars to a diversified press
May 11th, 2012 - 10:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0You mean *shock horror* CFK is restricting or controlling something somewhere? No! I won't believe it! The girl's got more fingers in more pies than Jack Horner.
May 11th, 2012 - 11:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0#3&5 Good points, and from an unpartisan source =)
May 11th, 2012 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0#5 “the massive hold that Clarin has on the media in Argentina is probably one of the main bars to a diversified press”
Exactly, and Cristina is absolutely right to stand up to them
This is a typical piece from Argentina:
May 11th, 2012 - 12:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/100499/the-usurpation-of-malvinas-affects-all-of-south-america-puricelli
...It affects all of South America - repeated and repeated and repeated.
My question in response would be “HOW?” It's another example of a catch phrase used that has no meaning at all.
The sovereignty of the Falklands does not affect the rest of South America in any way - other than CFK bouncing up and down about it.
8 Idlehands
May 11th, 2012 - 12:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Of course it doesn't but he can hardly admit that. The Falklands issue is bilateral and does not impact Columbia or Ecuador (for example). This is a concerted push to bring this to a head. Ultimately it will end with people either getting so annoyed that all states demand a solution or that people just ignore it. I suspect that it will be the latter as most countries have more pressing issues to deal with. They also can't take demands to abide by United Nations and international resolutions seriously when those demands are coming from a country which chooses which international judgements it wants to recognise. At some point the constant push of this issue will have to take a back seat as even some of Cristina's staunchest allies and supporters have stated to query why there is almost a complete lack of non-Malvinas related news coming out of the Casa Rosada.
Welsh, There is a long history of RG gov't killing reporters and destroying newspapers. It is a nasty and dangerous business to report what is really going on in The K regime.
May 11th, 2012 - 12:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0On another note, as of yesterday individuals were not granted the legal ability to exchange Pesos into any other currency!!!
Devaluation is imminent.
5 Welsh Wizard (#)
May 11th, 2012 - 01:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0May 11th, 2012 - 10:52 am
I'm afraid you're wrong on this one, the Kirchner Government has control over an enormous number of media outlets. These include the official government media and those media companies bought up by Kretina's business cronies such as Lopez et al and the local FM stations spread all over the country that respond to the regime. These far outway Clarin or Nación as propaganda tools.
Interesting to note from the article that the IMF questioned the stats because they are manipulated to the government's interests, a situation which started in 2007 after 'uncle Festor K' replaced the professional staff from Indec with political cronies.
May 11th, 2012 - 01:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is so easy to read how easily Argentina distorts and manipulates things like the history of the Falklands. Have they no shame?
Yankeechap
May 11th, 2012 - 01:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I know the history and that freedom of speech has been curtailed regularly over the years. I have to admit that I am completely unaware of current government intimidation of individual journalists so really can't comment.
Re. your second point (and sorry to be picky with language) I take it that you mean that the right people previously had (i.e. that they could change pesos into any other currency) has now been rescinded. Did the government find that people were just changing their pesos into Euros as a hedge rather than US$ (as they were unable to). Also, have you got a link for this info?
Cheers
W
Welsh Wizard, if you're interested in a totally independent Argentine newspaper, I'd recomend the “Río Negro”.
May 11th, 2012 - 01:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0www.rionegro.com.ar
14 Simon68
May 11th, 2012 - 01:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks for this, just what I'm looking for. Is it the provincial paper for Rio Negro?
13. Look on the front page of any of the Arg daily newspapers. People that could prove they Peso were “legal” ( one of the conditions to exchange) could not exchange yesterday. AFIP blocked ALL transactions. They've done it before just before a devaluation. http://www.ieco.clarin.com/economia/AFIP-impuso-bloqueo-compra-dolares_0_698330206.html
May 11th, 2012 - 01:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There have been kidnappings, robbery/murder, car accidents etc. all of them were high level news people that needed a lesson. I would have to go back through the newspapers to give you names etc but they're all there. If you want details you can check out the http://www.ieco.clarin.com/economia/AFIP-impuso-bloqueo-compra-dolares_0_698330206.html most of the reports are there.
15 Welsh Wizard (#)
May 11th, 2012 - 01:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0May 11th, 2012 - 01:22 pm
Yes, and it truly is independent which is pretty unusual in Argentina today.
17 Simon68
May 11th, 2012 - 01:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks, I'll read this in future.
16 yankeeboy
I expect that, if this has been taken away, then there must have been a change in the law. As such, it should be in the Gazette...
19. No the exchange law gives AFIP the authority to deny without explanation so they don't need to change anything.
May 11th, 2012 - 01:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#8 & 9
May 11th, 2012 - 01:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“it affects all of South America”
It certainly affects some of South America. Argentina continues to interfere in our economy by limiting our ability to trade with countries such as Chile, Uruguay and Brazil through restirctions on shipping and the banning of charter flights or denying the possibilities of other flight routes of our choosing.
There used to be an excellent shipping service between the Falklands and Punta Arenas which has all but gone now. I know many people in Punta Arenas and the restriction on shipping has had a huge impact on businesses there. Our hydorcarbons sector is set to grow and grow in the near future and we will be able to do virtually no business with South America because of the unilateral actions of the Argentine Government (particularly with shipping and flights). These actions don't just mean that we can't trade with other South American countries, but they can't trade with us either. We still need goods and services, so we go elsewhere.
So Argentina's ridiculous 'claim' on our country is affecting other South American countries, but granted, it doesn't really impact on Ecuador or Colombia.
19 yankeeboy
May 11th, 2012 - 01:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ahh, deeply cunning. So this is effectively a right granted by the government which can be rescinded at whim at any time by a government controlled agency. I suppose this allows them the use the “you're lucky you were able to do this in the first place” argument to get round the isssue of whether this is a fundamental right or not.
21. Correct. I also heard the USA ( as part of the G20) offered Arg 4 yrs to pay back the 9B they owe w/o IMF oversight but they had to pay all the ISCID judgments and they had to affirmatively respond within 60 days.
May 11th, 2012 - 02:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The USA is flabbergasted they have not responded by the deadline!!
One threat in the letter was confiscation of BCRA reserves...9B +the judgments... that will ensure another default and destroy their economy.
22 yankeeboy
May 11th, 2012 - 02:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0BCRA reserves…which are all kept at the fed reserve (or equivalent)?
That would be an amazingly punchy move by the US, having said that, they can't really threaten without actually going through with part of the threat at least. I suppose that going through with any part of it will have a material adverse effect on the economy.
I would be very interested to hear from any Argentineans who have tried to exchange money recently....
As a matter of a fact I tried to buy dollars at my bank yesterday, as there is no exchange house in my town, and was refused. The bank did not say that they were not allowed to make the exchange, they said they had no dollars.
May 11th, 2012 - 02:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 023. All they have to do is stop the x-fers of BRCA reserves they don't actually have to take them at this point. It would effectively shut down their trade. I think part of the reserves are in Switzerland but I bet there is enough on balance in NYC to severely damage their economy.
May 11th, 2012 - 02:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I agree with Simon. There is a freedom of press to a degree - Look at the likes of Lanata slagging off CFK on a regular basis etc - but it is outweighed by the relentless and I mean RELENTLESS media 'good news' stories about CFKs government and how great Argentina is, and also how bad the opponents are, other countries, the Las Malvinas 'issue' etc.
May 11th, 2012 - 03:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And of course its free so those that cant afford cable TV, the poorest - her voters, are subjected to numerous channels telling them to vote for CFK because shes wonderful and things will get better with her in charge.
If Argentina wants to have a much truer democracy one of the first things to do is get rid of these political propaganda media channels and allow people the space to make their own minds up. All governments try to manipulate the media to support them. Clearly thats been happening in the UK. BUT...its front page page news and the Brits are discussing it. The Leveson Enquiry could well be the downfall of Cameron. However the more honest governments in the world don't CONTROL media outright to spout endless propaganda - which is extensive in Argentina's case.
When I lived there Nestor put out “Argentina a serious country” all over bill boards, placards, newspaper advertisements, television ads. EVERYWHERE!
May 11th, 2012 - 03:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0All it did was make me remember....
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
Plus if they were a “serious country” they wouldn't have to advertise it!!
27 yankeeboy (#)
May 11th, 2012 - 03:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0May 11th, 2012 - 03:27 pm
Your comment reminded me of something, during the infamous dictatorship, aka “the Junta”, they put out a slogan which said “Unidos es más fácil” (United it's easier). Now what was the slogan in front of Kretina at her rally the other day.... “Unidad”, is she going the way of the Junta?
A week government relies on propaganda and emotional political gestures rather than well- thought out policies that will serve the country well in the medium/long term.
May 11th, 2012 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If a government was doing its job right the policies would be doing the talking not them.
They say a good referee is one you don-t notice because he/she allows the game to flow and our attention is on the game not the referee. Politics should be more like that.
@ 1 through 5
May 11th, 2012 - 06:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina is a far cry from North Korea or Nazi Germany, but the government should welcome criticism as a means to focus on problem areas instead of threatening its critics.
The Argentine government also needs to face reality in economics, accepting the real inflation figures and increase the “soft devaluation” to reflect it.
(2008 Jan 1 U$S = A$ 3.158, 2012 Jan 1 U$S = A$ 4.337 eq. 37%, but during that same period real prices in A$ have risen by about 120%, possibly more).
Imports has been growing faster than exports, in part because Argentine industry is finding it increasingly difficult to compete in the world market and in part because the artificially high peso value favors import.
http://www.argentinaindependent.com/category/culture/thoughtsofaforeigner/
May 11th, 2012 - 07:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0this guys weekly blog makes me laugh
Made me laugh too. The spoof ad is great:
May 11th, 2012 - 10:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VetuOlwcmqU
#30 - Both exports and imports are all screwed up. One can import only an equal amount (in value) to what one exports; and then the imports are kept in customs and not released. Businesses that depend on imports, such as small parts to install in what is being manufactured, are not getting the small parts, thus production is slowed or the business is rapidly becoming a “non-business”.
May 12th, 2012 - 12:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0“but the government should welcome criticism as a means to focus on problem areas instead of threatening its critics”
May 12th, 2012 - 09:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0But Cristina does and has welcomed criticism, see the thread where she says just that, its just that you may not like the criticism she accepted, ie that she should have nationalised sooner =)
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