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Macri stuns Argentina and markets with his vice presidential candidate, a respected leader of the opposition in Congress

Wednesday, June 12th 2019 - 09:58 UTC
Full article 26 comments

President Mauricio Macri stunned Argentines and markets on Tuesday by naming the head of the congressional opposition as his vice-presidential candidate in October's general election. Miguel Angel Pichetto, a 68-year-old lawyer and Senator from the province of Rio Negro has been a loyal and pragmatic member of the Peronist movement since he started in politics in the early eighties. Read full article

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  • Think

    Miguel Angel Pichetto...
    Our very own “Franco Sotobosque”...

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 11:00 am - Link - Report abuse -1
  • :o))

    Why not follow a good example?
    https://www.otempo.com.br/image/contentid/policy:1.2136642:1550179513/CHARGE%20O%20TEMPO.JPG

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 12:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Trimonde

    Meaning: “Oppositions” don't really exist.
    So stop trying to pigeonhole the world into a controllable fight of bad-guy vs good-guy, left vs right, capitalism vs socialism opposites!!! Let people be intelligent about the workings of their governments!!!

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 01:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Little J

    Let's hope that the MACRI - PICHETTO ticket will win - even in the worst of cases in the ballotage. Believe this will be the case the moreso if they obtain the backing of Manuel Urtubey and perhaps a few others out there who still believe they have a chance to compete in the Presidential elections, but whose chances are definitely very slim.

    In this manner we should (hopefully) see the end of the K gang and their cohorts, leaving a the country to be governed by leaders, who although have made many mistakes - nobody is perfect - at least are trying their best to get the country out of the mess they inherited when taking over from the previous government.

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 02:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • DemonTree

    Heh. Yeah, Think, stop trying to pigeonhole the world into a controllable fight of bad-guy vs good-guy...

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 02:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • :o))

    @Trimonde

    REF: “Oppositions” don't really exist

    THAT's it!

    You ACTUALLY hit the Bull's Eye!

    In front of the media/masses; they pose themselves as the sworn enemies of each other but behind the closed doors, it's exactly the SAME breed of crooks - embracing + kissing each other - one complimenting the other about the latest racket run; to screw the country!
    http://www.paulista40graus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/charge131.jpg

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 02:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Trimonde

    My Portuguese is not the best :o))
    Are you Brazilian or Portuguese ?

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 03:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • :o))

    @Trimonde

    REF: My Portuguese is not the best :o))

    I'm absolutely sure that you ARE intelligent to understand!
    https://i0.wp.com/humorpolitico.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Suruba-para-todos.jpg?resize=480%2C360

    REF: “Are you Brazilian or Portuguese”:


    Neither! I'm from Luxembourg; lost in South America!

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 04:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Enrique Massot

    This is Mauricio Macri's tactical response to the FF ticket.

    Because the candidacy of Alberto Fernandez as president and Cristina scaled-down candidacy to VP took everybody by surprise, Macri thought he would produce an impact in an attempt to recover the centre scene.

    In the end, however, “it's the economy, stupid.”

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 04:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • DemonTree

    @Trimonde
    If you're from Argentina, shouldn't you be able to read Portuguese?

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 05:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Tarquin Fin

    Ernesto,

    That's a good analysis. I would just add that Calos Saul's prediction has finally been fulfilled: Ideologies are dead.

    Jun 12th, 2019 - 07:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Enrique Massot

    LJ

    ”...we should (hopefully) see the end of the K gang and their cohorts, leaving a the country to be governed by leaders...“

    LJ: Either you are delusional, or you do not know much about Argentina's recent history.

    I will remind you that what you call ”the K gang“ is now a part of a front that has serious chances of winning the October presidential election. And this, in spite of the best efforts of Mauricio Macri and his merry gang of highway robbers, that included imprisonment of former officials, relentless attacks by the dominant media, numerous legal processes to leader Cristina Fernandez, etc.

    And those you call ”leaders” (I will assume you are referring to Macri and Co.) have revealed surprisingly creative finding ways to enhance their personal wealth with the help of the Argentine state -- prosecutors and judges will be busy after Dec. 10.

    Oh, and sorry to rain on your parade, but Pichetto brings very little in terms of votes to the ticket. He has made friends with every single power in place since Menem, but he has little, if any, electoral weight. From his own standpoint, running as VP is an excellent promotion. As for Macri, he chose the man after enduring at least four refusals from potential VP candidates.

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Little J

    Enrique,

    Let me first of all clarify that I have lived in Argentina for a large percentage of my life, having only moved to a neighbouring country a few years ago. Hence I consider myself well versed in Argentina's history.
    I don't disagree with you that F&F ticket stands a fair chance of being reelected.
    What I cannot agree with you is that the imprisonment of former officials, and the rest of this paragraph reflects the true situation of the country. If anybody tried to muzzle the press, persecuted those who were opposed to her views, etc. was CFK. Let's not forget the various attempts made to close CLARIN, and a host of other measures taken in this respect.
    With regards the numerous legal processes to your “leader” these no doubt are clearly substantiated in the courts, with all the evidence produced and there is no doubt in mind that a fair trial is being granted to those involved. No doubt justice will decide on whether they are or not guilty of the crimes they have supposedly committed. To mind there is little doubt as to their guilt, but I prefer to leave the courts to judge and issue their findings in due course.

    So far to the best of my knowledge there has never been “kangaroo courts” in Argentina which condemmed those prosecuted without fair trial, and a fair trial is exactly what your “leader” and all her entourage are receiving.

    You may not like what you are seeing and reading but I would suggest that you take the blinkers off your eyes and see the reality of what has happened during the past government's tenure in office. Perhaps by doing this you will be at least a little less short-sighted and accept the reality of the circumstances.

    As to the Macri-Pichetto I', ticket are confident and above hopeful that they will win for the sake of the future of Argentina and those who reside there.

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 01:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    Little J

    Let me first of all clarify that I have lived in Argentina for a large percentage of my life too, having also lived in many other countries in my not so few years on earth. Hence I consider myself quite versed in Argentina's reality.
    I do agree with you and Enrique that F&F ticket stands more than a fair chance of being elected.
    What I cannot agree with you is that the imprisonment of former officials, and the rest of his paragraph doesn't reflect the true situation of the country. If anybody tried to regulate the monopolic dominance of information from the Clarin group through democratic legislative means in the Argentinean Parliament..., didn't “preventively arrest” nor repress those who were opposed to her views, etc. was CFK.
    PLEASE REFRESH THIS FRAIL PATAGONIAN'S MIND about any ATTEMP made to ***“CLOSE”*** CLARIN.
    With regards the numerous legal processes against Mme. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, these no doubt are as clearly substantiated in the courts as the cases against Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva..., with all the NON PRODUCED evidence and there is no doubt in mind that a fair trial is NOT being granted to those involved.
    No doubt OUR JUDICIARY SYSTEM will decide on whether they are or not guilty of the crimes they have supposedly committed. To my mind there is little doubt as to their innocence.., but as a normal citizen I prefer to keep an open eye on our local version of a not blind..., one eyed..., forked tonged JUSTITIA...
    To the best of my knowledge there has ALWAYS been “kangaroo courts” in most of our region..., as the very..., very current D'ALESIO GATE and MORO GATE scandals so clearly demonstrate.
    Fabricated causes without any evidence and self-proclaimed moral watchtowers “inner convictions” are exactly what South America's popular leaders are receiving...

    You may not like what I am writing but I would suggest that you take the blinkers off your eyes and see the reality of what is happening ..., JUST NOW.., JUST HERE...

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 02:48 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Little J

    Think

    I've expressed my opinions freely and I hope clearly and concisely. Therefore I rest my case.
    If you need further evidence as to all other matters referred to in our exchange of messages may I respectfully suggest you try the www where I'm absolutely certain you will find all the asnwers (favourable or otherwise) to all the questions you raise.

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    Likewise..., Mr. Little J..., likewise...
    A nice evening to you too...
    El Think...

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:14 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Enrique Massot

    LJ

    Thanks for a thoughtful posting – you make your points in a measured tone and that is refreshing.

    About no kangaroo courts in Argentina, let me explain a couple things.

    When Mauricio Macri took office, one of his goals was to tarnish CFK government officials and one of his preferred methods was to use the government-friendly media and a group of prosecutors and judges.

    However: Aren’t you surprised that, of all the legal cases involving CFK and others, so little has been accomplished – that is, only one sentence in the most notorious cases (Lopez and the bags) and none on Cristina? Many are concerned by the judges’ apparent lack of diligence in reaching verdicts.

    Well: there is a reason for that, and you rightly pointed to it. Which is: the Argentine courts are not kangaroo courts, meaning during trial, lack of evidence will be exposed and judges will not condemn without evidence.

    However, as the legal cases remain open and inconclusive, most people will rightly consider former CFK government officials as suspects – which is exactly the government’s intended purpose.

    As an example of a different take on the judiciary, if you haven’t been paying attention to the D’Alessio case in the hands of federal judge Alejo Ramos Padilla, I strongly advise you to check it out.

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:59 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Zaphod Beeblebrox

    “Investors appeared to approve of Macri’s choice. A closely watched JP Morgan country risk index fell 66 basis points on the news to 866 points overall, its lowest level since April. The country’s benchmark Merval equities index jumped on the news, to close up 4.01% on Tuesday.”

    The peso has also gained in value since the announcement. So that is at least three economic indicators that have improved on the announcement. As someone said: ”In the end, however, “it's the economy, stupid.”

    So it seems like the experts like Macri's announcement but Reekie, Think and CFK do not. Therefore it must be a good move by Macri!

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 05:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    Estimado Sr. Massot...
    Two words of disagreement about “kangaroo courts” in Argentina...:
    - Milagro Sala...

    Jun 13th, 2019 - 07:14 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Enrique Massot

    Think

    Sure. Should not have generalized. The case of Milagro Sala is a living example of a kangaroo court totally responding to the political power of the Salta governor.

    Although I do not now much about the Oral Federal Tribunals, I understand the reluctance in advancing with all the trials against Cristina is partly because of the lack of solid evidence that should be produced in court.

    Zaphod:

    Wow. You must have a direct line to the Casa Rosada. I am impressed!

    You may or may not know that the markets will cheer if there are chances for the current team to stay in power so that the famous “timba financiera” or carry trade plus massive capital flight may continue unimpeded.

    You, as the government does, pay attention to “the markets” because you obviously are not among those impacted by recession combined with inflation, loss of jobs, closure of small, medium-size and even large companies.

    As for those making profits thanks to the current state of things, no doubt they'll cheer up for Macri-Pichetto.

    Jun 14th, 2019 - 10:30 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Think

    As “Alcentro” Fernandez sooo rightly put it a couple of days ago...:

    The MARKET is happy...
    The PEOPLE is hunrgy...

    Jun 15th, 2019 - 11:16 am - Link - Report abuse -1
  • Enrique Massot

    Funny thing, suddenly all Macri cheerleaders are happy about Pichetto's candidacy to VP. We don't even see anybody -- not in MP, not in Argentina's media or social media -- cautioning about Pichetto being “once a Peronist, always a Peronist.”

    However, they are right. Pichetto is a deeply reactionary person, one who blames the poor for being poor and feels contempt for those who, not finding a job, become 'cartoneros,' that is, gatherers of recyclable materials. He recently declared to the media “we need more entrepreneurs and less cartoneros.”

    As Senate president, Pichetto helped Macri pass most of his bills for the last four years, but his political career was coming to an end and that is why he readily accepted to be VP candidate.

    Jun 15th, 2019 - 01:19 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • :o))

    @Enrique Massot

    REF: “he readily accepted to be VP candidate”:

    ANY position is OK as long as there is every opportunity to have at least a finger in ANY pie!

    Jun 15th, 2019 - 03:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Zaphod Beeblebrox

    EM,

    “You may or may not know that the markets will cheer if there are chances for the current team to stay in power so that the famous “timba financiera” or carry trade plus massive capital flight may continue unimpeded.”

    If you look at the facts, your comments about capital flight are becoming increasingly inaccurate by the day. Capital flow from Argentina has shown a steady decline since January 2018. If the trend continues, the capital flow would now be reversed but we won't know until the data is available: https://tradingeconomics.com/argentina/capital-flows

    “You, as the government does, pay attention to “the markets” because you obviously are not among those impacted by recession combined with inflation, loss of jobs, closure of small, medium-size and even large companies.”

    You miss the point that the markets are actually an indicator of hope for the future. People are investing because they see the probability of more trade which actually equates to more jobs and more companies.

    You object to wealth creation because you perceive that none of it is coming in your direction. Understandable, but maybe short-sighted.

    Jun 17th, 2019 - 05:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Trimonde

    @Little J.
    Considering everything that has happened to the Argentine economy since Macri took office, considering his phony lying personality, and his lack of protective qualities or long term sovereign investment interests for the country... what could possibly be your hope about, other than a self serving hope, as I'm certain that like every other British or Falkland Islander thinking in terms of what is best for Argentina by the interests and desires of Argentinians does not enter in your rationale

    Jun 17th, 2019 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
  • :o))

    1º: From the Frying-Pan into the FIRE?
    2º: Replacing one crook by your very own favorite crook?
    : WHAT's the THIRD Choice for Latin America?

    Jun 19th, 2019 - 03:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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