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Spanish politician warns cuts are necessary “if we don’t want to become another Argentina”

Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 20:21 UTC
Full article 33 comments

The President of the Community of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, has warned about the “difficult” situation Spain is going through, and said “If we don’t want to become another Argentina, with a ‘corralito’ and inflation rates around 20-40%, we must cut the public spending and find the accounts’ balance.” Read full article

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  • ChrisR

    At least this woman is talking economic sense unlike The Mad Bitch Of Argentina.

    Great news for the Community of Madrid.

    Jul 23rd, 2012 - 08:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    Talking sense is not going to be enough.
    To say Spain risks becoming another Argentina is a little arrogant.
    I would rather be in Argentina’s predicament than Spain’s.

    Argentina is a rich country that is baddy run.
    Spain is a poor country that has been badly run.

    Argentina can turn its ship around. Spain is just slowly becoming an extension of the Sahara and it is hard to be optimistic about its future.

    Jul 23rd, 2012 - 09:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    What a thing to say,
    We hope the mighty empress CFK takes grave offence to that remark,
    And warns spain of the consequences,
    Impounds Spanish ships,
    Turns other south American countries against her,

    Yep,
    An insult if ever there was one,

    Still, if you go round insulting others,
    eventually, others will insult you lol.
    Come on CFK , give us another laugh .

    Jul 23rd, 2012 - 10:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JoseAngeldeMonterrey

    Regardless of my personal opinion about the way CFK is governing argentina, I find it very inappropriate and low-class for this lady to speak in those terms. Surely Madrid is a cosmopolitan city, and there is a very thriving argentinian community there, they deserve some respect, or at the very least, some consideration.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 02:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marcos Alejandro

    “we don’t want to become another Argentina”....we just go there :-))

    http://www.clarin.com/sociedad/Argentina-pais-salida-laboral-espanoles_0_742125880.html

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 02:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Idlehands

    By the term “the new Argentina” she was probably refering to being locked out of the capital markets and suffering perpetual boom and bust economics with constant enormous inflation.

    It was probably an observation rather than a dig.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 08:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Rufus

    It says something when Spain, with it's abysmally mismanaged economy holds you up as a bad example not to be followed...

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 09:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @2 If Spain is a poor country that has been badly run, why is its nominal GDP three times that of argieland?
    @4 How can the comparison be “inappropriate and low-class” if it is accurate. And having looked up the figures, she could just as easily have cited Mexico.
    @5 Oh dear, another failure to mention what the linked article actually says. Considering that the ideal place to emigrate to for Spaniards is stated to be Brazil, followed by Peru and then Mexico. Effectively what the article tells Spaniards is that if they are desperate to get out of Spain, go to Brazil. If they are more desperate, go to Peru. More desperate still, go to Mexico. If they are so desperate that they are scraping the bottom of the bucket and nowhere else will take them, go to argieland. Still, that might be considered good. Better than not having a bucket at all! Which is where argieland is!
    @7 I don't know. If you live in a semi-democracy that maintains a band of paramilitary thugs, continually tries to harass a peaceful neighbour and want to go the whole hog and live in a thinly-veiled dictatorship, why would you not choose argieland?

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 10:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JoseAngeldeMonterrey

    @8,

    That´s right, she could have said Mexico, Greece, Portugal, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and many other countries, including Spain.
    Very few countries in the world are doing well today. The traditionally wealthy ones are burdened by huge and incredible debts, banking crisis, unemployment and stagnant growth, just like Spain, Italy, France, Britain, the US, Japan, etc. even Germany, while the developing world has lest debt, less unemployment, a little bit more growth, but living standards and salaries are much, much lower and levels of violence and insecurity are much more higher.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 11:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    Well with a face like that she's not going to be another Cristina! (Though is she Aznar's wife, I heard she was “Mayor of Madrid” or something like that now?)

    It seems the Spanish and European austerity junkies are so afraid of becoming the Argentina of 2012 (or any time since 2003) that they are instead pushing to be the Argentina of 2001!

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 11:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Spainexpat

    @BK

    There you go again with your jokes. ;))

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 11:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Benson

    @10 “Well with a face like that she's not going to be another Cristina!”
    At least she has one thing to be thankful for.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 12:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    This woman will be the next president of Spain. She has everything a TRUE
    politician has. She speaks fluent English and is a strong admirer of Mrs Thatcher.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 12:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #13 You're having a laugh right? I thought you were with Cristina?

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 12:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    @14 No jokes with this woman. She is pure dynamite!!
    Keep an eye out for her in the future. She would be a better president
    than this troll Rajoy.(current president of Spain)

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 12:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    I think 6 was right. This was not a personal dig at Argentina or being Argentine, but purely a rational and logical statement that no country would want to be in the economic mess that has been created by the Argentine government. However much the CFKC supporters would like to deny the reality, Argentina has not recovered from the biggest default in history, it is considered a financial pariah and untrustworthy, and the people of Argentina will continue to suffer economic uncertainty until they elect a leader with the ability and intelligence to deal with it.

    I continue to hope they will swallow the bitter pill to put their country right so that future generations can enjoy the wealth and stability that the resources of Argentina could provide if properly managed.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 12:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    she could always sell patagonia, to the british, to make a few bob .

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 01:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @9 Interesting. Shall we leave the LatAm no-hopers out of it? The Greek nominal GDP is nearly three times that of argieland and Mexico. The Portuguese nominal GDP is a little more than twice that of argieland.
    @10 Who, with any intelligence, pride, self-respect, would want to be the argieland of anytime? Prime characteristics: Thieving, lying, super-inflationary, poverty-stricken (but not where it shows), corrupt and headed by a thieving, lying, corrupt, grasping, incompetent hag with a face like a donkey's ar*e. Bet her tits droop down to her knees as well!
    @14 The world of CFK! Trust no-one. Backstabbers all. Honour amongst thieves? Not in LatAm. Plenty of thieves. No honour.
    @17 Then we could sell it to Chile, for a purely nominal sum. Just to show that there IS a nation with a sense of natural justice!

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Tobers

    @16

    I agree that CFK et al are not particlularly clever people but I dont think their political actions and inactions are really due to lack of ability, intelligence or common sense.

    Peronism is all about control so while the -government's- actions seem like ridiculous ineptitude really its deliberate sabotage. As the economy grows, people get richer and and thus the threat to peronism's grip over the people increases. The system simply cant allow that and that is why with all Argentina's wealth it is stuck in a boom and bust cycle. It reaches a certain ceiling level (where the -government- starts to feel like its losing its influence) then crashes

    Peronism relies on boom and bust. Allow economic growth to give people hope then progressively add more and more restrictions and greater penalties. The trick is to allow growth take credit for the boom period then blame everyone else for the bust period that the system created and ride it out until the economy inevitably grows again. Inject nationalism into the blood on a regular basis to keep the masses doped up and subservient.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 03:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @19 Good points.

    The puzzle is that when you speak to Argentines they are heartily sick of living precariously and want stability, to be respected and regain their place as a wealthy nation. Then they elect another Peronist. I know part of this is down to being inculcated from birth that peronism works for the people but it doesn't. It is amusing that CFKC supporting Argentines see themselves as rebelling against a system that wants to repress them whilst rolling over to a dictator responsible for removing their basic rights.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 04:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Tobers

    I think the key to bringing down the peronist system is to tackle nationalism. The middle class need to focus on democracy not nationalism. They hate CFK and the system (especially when it takes their dollars) but they allow themselves to get distracted by nationalism. Instead of saying -is that good for Argentina?- they need to say -is that good for democracy?-

    El Clarin for example is fiercely anti peronism and yet 100% malvinistic (or maybe thats just to sell papers (advertising space)...). But by being nationalistic (as in the case of -las malvinas-) it is supporting the -government- it allegedly hates by allowing it room to behave in a crude, belligerent, authoritarian way in -protecting the interests of Argentina-

    El Clarin and other anti peronist media hardly question the manipulating dishonest methods of the government when it comes to the -las malvinas- issue.... and yet do so in almost all other aspects. This isnt consistent and only benefits the peronist system because the system knows it can pull las malvinas out of the bag and for a good while at least subdue and manipulate the middleclass.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 04:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @21 Yes I can see what you are saying.

    Surely the Falklands issue is absolutely key to Peronism power. Didn't Juan Peron realise that the country would never be united unless he invented a common cause and enemy? Argentina was a disparate, squabbling country that couldn't be united without the BIG LIE. That so much effort goes into brainwashing from birth shows how flimsy the claim is. If it were is any way valid, the silly stories and propaganda wouldn't be necessary.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 05:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Britworker

    Poor old Argentina, it says something when other countries use you as disaster barometer. It makes me laugh that no British politician during all of their provocative behaviour has mocked their economy like this Spanish lady has. It will be interesting to see if Turkey neck reacts to it. I see she is now putting the wheels in motion to stop their press reporting bad news. Argentinians will have to look to Mercopress to find out what is going on in their own country very soon.

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 06:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Musky

    @23
    Spain can see the truth and it's such a strong metaphor the entire Spanish nation knows what she is talking about. If CKF tries to silence the press, she'll have to cut the Internet and the BBC will have to launch an Argentine service and Argentine posters will have to tune in to hear the truth!

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 07:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • slattzzz

    The difference is EU countries and the US will try and help Spain, Portugal, ROI and Greece.........................rgenweener................NO FOOKIN CHANCE!!!!!

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 09:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    like the picture says,

    Apparently the argument came to a very abrupt end,
    When Esperanza Aguirre , shouted across the floor and pointed at
    Spanish president Mariano Rajoy

    And you bloody well leave Gibraltar alone, you bully,
    It’s British,
    Were not another bloody nasty, CFK
    Of Argentina,
    Now leave them alone,
    The room went very quiet,
    End of .??lol

    Jul 24th, 2012 - 09:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #15 But do you support her? I thought a left seeming anti-colonialist like you would be against all PP politicians, not just Rajoy. And saying she's a Thatcherite like its a good thing, weird...

    Jul 25th, 2012 - 02:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    British-Kebab,
    Thankfully not everyone is as blinkered as you.
    Why should a “left seeming anti-colonialist” be against all PP politicians? I think that is just weird.
    It is a great weakness not to recognise merit in opposing positions. Such attitudes lead to unproductive political tribalism.
    I would broadly support Thatcher, but all she did was good.
    I would broadly oppose Blair, but not all he did was bad.

    Jul 25th, 2012 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @27 Support? An inch-wide wooden pole with splinters. In through the ar*e and out through? Who cares. Just as long as the hag suffers for at least 96 hours or more. And is recorded on video. And we can all have a laugh!

    Jul 25th, 2012 - 05:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #28 “Why should a “left seeming anti-colonialist” be against all PP politicians?”

    Because they're one of Europe's most reactionary parties, with unsavoury links to the Francoist past perhaps? (Yes I know about Peron's links with Franco before any smart alec brings them up, and don't support them!)

    I actually do like to engage with, learn from and if appropriate (occasionally!) be convinced by people of opposing views, I have Tory friends in real life and on this board find you yourself, for example, a humane and thoughtful (for the most part) centre-right supoorter who I enjoy debating (as opposed to the more rampant types, you know who I mean!) I'm just confused by AS's seeming personal enthusiasm for a politician calling for cuts and slagging off Argentina when he's usually on Argentina's side

    Jul 25th, 2012 - 06:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    eye no right , eye no left , eye no middle,

    im just me .

    Jul 25th, 2012 - 09:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    BK
    It doesn’t matter who’s in power in Spain. Any government will have to push on with the cuts. Spain is close to default on its loans and the cost of borrowing more is unsustainable. To attempt to borrow more now would push those rates even higher and accelerate Spain into the abyss. Ms Aguirre is completely correct. There is no magic bullet for Spain’s problems, just lots of bitter medicine to take.

    People can protest, riot and change governments as much as they like but it won’t change a thing. People all over Europe will have to re-evaluate what they can expect the state to provide them with; work longer and take fewer holidays. When being crushed by debt you can default, or work harder and/or spend less. Problem is there are politicians on the left who choose to dispute this fact and play on the naivety/denial of many. This will just prolong the ailing.

    I am interested by: “unsavoury links to the Francoist past”, does the PP have a time machine?

    I am also curious as to why Franco is “unsavoury” and Castro is not. Both rose to power through violence, both murdered and exiled their opponents, both consolidated power through intimidation and ruled as dictators until death/illness prohibited.

    If you were politically colour-blind could you really say one was less savoury than the other?

    Jul 25th, 2012 - 10:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #32 “There is no alternative” was the old Thatcher slogan of course, its just not true, its never true, there are always alternatives and the job of politics is to find the better one. Try convincing people that cuts are the better alternative than investment and economic growth, and it will be more difficult of course!

    As for Castro and Franco, the difference is Franco (like Pinochet) rebelled against a democratic government in order to crush the mass movement that had put it in power; Castro represented the armed wing of a mass movement that overthrew a dictatorship. His system is different from liberal democracy but that doesn't mean the (armed) people are against him, and you have to take into account the 50 years of American blockade to see some of the most compelling reasons why not all in the garden is rosy

    Jul 26th, 2012 - 09:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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