A majority of Buenos Aires City residents are fed up with political rallies stemming from the ongoing stand off between the Argentine government and the protesting farmers over grains and oilseeds export taxes, according to a survey released on Wednesday.
Wall Street analysts forecast a complicated horizon for Argentina fueled by the government's political problems, slower economy, rising inflation and the ongoing dispute with farmers over taxes which some anticipate will find its way to the courts, according to reports in the Buenos Aires press.
With less than two days for the crucial Congressional vote on the sliding tax regime on grain and oil seed exports which is at the heart of a dispute between the Argentine administration of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and the farmers, the final tally remains uncertain.
Argentina re-established benefits to fisheries exports to the tune of 20 million US dollars annually according to reports in the Buenos Aires press. Benefits range from 1% to 10% depending on the added value to the exported product.
The Chilean government admitted on Monday it was foreseeable that Argentina would impose a 100% increase on the natural gas export tax. The tax on Argentine gas exported to Chile has soared from 7.8 US dollars per million BTU to 15.9 US dollars, which added to transport and other inputs adds to 29 US dollars per million BTU.
The Spanish group Marsans expects to finalize this week an agreement to sell Aerolíneas Argentinas and its subsidiary Austral to the Argentine government according to company sources in Madrid.
The Argentine government could take control of Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral to guarantee regularity of commercial flights and protect Argentine assets and 10.000 jobs, anticipated the representative of the State in Aerolíneas Argentinas Julio Alak.
The Argentine government/farmers stand off over export taxes has scheduled a new demonstration of force next Super Tuesday when the presidential Kirchner couple government faithful, and farmers with city supporters, will be out on the streets of Buenos Aires in two simultaneous, but 50 blocks away separate rallies.
The Argentine government asked on Thursday a judge to appoint an administrator for the country's main airline and flag carrier Aerolineas Argentinas, a move seen as a possible step toward a state takeover of the company and a potential controversy with the Spanish government.
The Consumer Prices Index in Argentina increased 0.6% in June and 4.6% in the first half of the year. Wholesale prices jumped 1% in June totaling 6.3% in the first six months of 2008, both percentages according to the official Statistics and Census Office, Indec