MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Former foreign minister Taiana returns to politics next to Cristina Fernandez

Taiana’s comeback was the biggest surprise

Argentine former foreign minister Jorge Taiana was named candidate to lead President Cristina Fernandez’ Victory Front to the Buenos Aires City Legislature. Although Taiana’s name had been rumoured, the move was the biggest surprise in the countdown to the Saturday midnight deadline to register candidates to run in October’s mid term election.

“We are very optimistic. I think we have a good list of candidates and, for my part, I am glad to be contributing to strengthening the performance of a national project that has transformed Argentina and is trying to express itself more vigorously in Buenos Aires City,” said Taiana.

His name was announced officially during a press conference after a last minute meeting in the Buenos Aires Justicialist Party headquarters.

“This is a pluralistic list that represents all Kirchnerite sectors. It’s a ticket I am proud to head. I am eager to work hard for Buenos Aires City citizens to guarantee the highest possible level for our Legislature,” promised Taiana.

During former president Néstor Kirchner’s administration, Taiana was appointed deputy Foreign Minister under Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa. Taiana was named foreign minister in December 2005.

But his relationship with the Kirchners dates back to the Calafate Group creation in the ‘80s. It was the same political channel leftist sectors inside Peronism used to stay away from the pro-president Carlos Menem sector in the nineties.

After the December 2001 collapse, the Calafate Group became Néstor Kirchner’s base to run for president in 2003.

Once Cristina Fernández de Kirchner took office on December 2007, Taiana was confirmed as foreign minister. Diplomatic conflicts at the time included the Argentina-Uruguay confrontation over the pulp mill plants in Fray Bentos.

Things would not end well. On June 2010, after being accussed of “disloyalty” by Cristina Fernández, Taiana sent a letter of resignation to her alleging “personal reasons.” And he almost disappeared from major leagues politics.