MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine central bank chairman defends the 50-peso Malvinas bill

“Today the 50 peso bill is in the streets. The Malvinas islands, a sovereign love. A symbol of passion that belongs to a nation’s heritage,” Vanoli wrote

Argentina's Central Bank Governor Alejandro Vanoli defended the new 50-peso banknote which features the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, after it was belittled by the a minister of state at the British Foreign Office.

 The new bill was meant to honor those who fell during the 1982 Malvinas War and in defense of Argentina’s sovereignty over the Islands.

“Today the 50 peso bill is in the streets. The Malvinas islands, a sovereign love. A symbol of passion that belongs to a nation’s heritage,” Vanoli wrote on Twitter.

Foreign Office Minister of State Hugo Swire accused President Cristina Fernández administration of pulling a stunt with the new Malvinas bill earlier this week.

“On the issue of the 50-peso banknote, we can't stop the Argentine government from these stunts,” minister Swire, said when asked about the bill in parliament.

”It's worth a whopping 3.72 pounds (6 dollars) according to today's exchange rate,“ he added. ”And I think it probably has the equivalent political value“.

Meanwhile in the province of San Juan, northwest Argentina, the new 50 pesos Malvinas bill did not receive such enthusiastic support as displayed by president Cristina Fernández and her central bank chairman Vanoli.

In effect the daily “Tiempo” from San Juan asked in a non scientific survey among its readers how they felt that Malvinas replaced Faustino Sarmiento, a beloved son of the province and former Argentine president, in the 50-peso note.

Although the two bills, that with the new Malvinas map and the Gaucho Rivero and the older one with Sarmiento will continue to be legal tender in Argentina, many also recall that with the 100 Peso bill former president Julio Argentino Roca, famous for conquering Patagonia from the Indians, was finally replaced by the new one with Evita Perón.

And what did the survey reveal? 26.08% of Tiempo readers said they supported the change, however, 73.92% were against changing Malvinas for Sarmiento in the 50 Peso bill.