MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Test of strengths” shows Moyano is capable of challenging Cristina Fernandez

According to analyst Fraga, the rift can be expected to widen

The two call for dialogue but at the same time argue they are victims of extortion so it is difficult to see reconciliation, rather as escalation of the confrontation between President Cristina Fernandez and organized labour chief Hugo Moyano, particularly following on Wednesday national strike and rally at Plaza de Mayo.

Rosendo Fraga, one of Argentina’s main political analyst and historian in a column in La Nacion writes that the “test of strengths” has shown that Moyano, who had seen his power eroded to the hands of CFK electoral success and plotting to divide the labour movement with Wednesday’s rally is capable of putting up a strong resistance although not necessarily to grow an alternative.

Furthermore, according to Fraga dialogue negotiations are not in the genetics of Cristina Kirchner’s way of thinking and strategy, which only comes to confirm the growing distance between the two leaders.

On the Moyano side the personal attacks from the organized labour chief and his son Pablo, head of the teamsters regarding the origin of the Kirchner couple wealth and their activities during the last Argentine military dictatorship, far from closing the gap, further open it.

Moyano the only speaker at the rally, as union chief and not as political leader, recalled that in Argentina during the military regime there were those who sought exile in other countries and others “who took refuge in Patagonia”, while many of those who now make up the current administration, kept quiet and hid under their beds. “Workers and union leaders meantime were fighting to help recover democracy and restoration of human rights”.

Even when Argentine unions’ tactics have been to push, push and then negotiate, Fraga says “this is not working now, and looking ahead most probably the conflict not only will continue but will escalate”.

Moyano has called for a new support demonstration in two weeks time, July 12 in coincidence with the CGT congress that should re-elect him but most probably will be ignored by the Ministry of Labour and his unions’ adversaries.

And “the most probable division of the labour umbrella organization CGT will make it more difficult and not easier for a rebuild of the broken relation between Moyano and the Casa Rosada”

However with Moyano as the only speaker the rally was essentially a workers protest in spite of the fact through the social network most of the anti-K forces from farmers to opposition members of parliament were convened but were not to be seen.

At the end of the day “Moyano must realize he has shown to have the necessary strength to resist but yet not, to grow. On the Cristina Fernandez side it must be aware of this fact and that the rapidly changing economic situation for the worse will only further boost political and social conflicts” concludes Fraga.

“Only a few months ago the government strategists believed they could win placing Moyano as the enemy, but now that does not seem so clear”.