MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Buenos Aires city mayor challenges CFK by launching ‘a price index audited’ by the civil society.

Official (Indec) figures are ‘fake’ said Mayor Mauricio Macri

Buenos Aires City Mayor Mauricio Macri launched on Friday a price index to be “permanently audited by the civil society” in Argentina’s capital, in a move that steps up the pressure on the inflation controversy surrounding President Cristina Fernandez administration.

“Inflation is the most perverse tax citizens can be charged with,” Macri said.

According to Indec’s numbers consumer inflation in Argentina is in the range of 10.8% annually but private consultants and even some non Kirchnerite ruled provinces which have their own stats office, the real rate is in the range of 24%. Coincidently that is the percentage Argentine organized labour is managing at salary rounds in the different sectors of the economy.

In a press conference held at Buenos Aires city’s government house, the head of the opposition PRO party questioned the credibility of the Indec statistics bureau calling official figures “fake.”

“Together with Venezuela, Argentina has the highest inflation rates in Latin America. It is a lie that we need inflation to grow, consume and live. That is the excuse of those who can not or do no want to solve it,” Macri insisted as he said his administration only tries to defend “central democratic values” such as “freedom” and “truth”.

In that sense, he took the opportunity to praise the approval of the “freedom of expression” bill by Buenos Aires city Legislature which the national government has blasted for allegedly “protecting” the Clarín media group in its long-standing dispute against the Cristina Fernández administration over the implementation of Argentina’s anti-monopoly media legislation.

The City Legislature approved a bill drafted in order to “protect” freedom of the press in the City, replacing a DNU emergency decree issued by Mayor Mauricio Macri, and which was supported by several in the opposition.

The final tally was 35 votes in favour, 15 against it and 7 abstentions over a total of 57 lawmakers present.

The bill was passed with 26 members of the PRO party voting in favour of it, two from Bases para la Unión, two from the UCR, three from the Civic Coalition, one from Confianza Pública and one from Proyecto Sur.

In related news the Buenos Aires City government blasted administration of Cristina Fernández for an attempt to remove the Cristóbal Colón’s monument from behind the Government House and transfer it to Mar del Plata.

The removal work began after Friday midday and caused criticism from the City Legislature vice-president Cristian Ritondo. Several City legislators called on a press-conference to denounce the Government’s decision.

In their statements, they appealed to the fact the monument belongs to the City’s cultural and historical heritage, so the “Government doesn’t have authority to remove it.”

The President plans to replace a six-metre marble monument of Colón by the statue of Juana Azurduy, a Latin American guerrilla military leader.