By Anne Krueger (*) - Argentina's President Mauricio Macri knew that he had inherited a sick economy when he took office in 2015, but failed to take his medicine. As a result, the country now has no choice but to face up to a period of painful structural adjustment.
A team from the International Monetary Fund met on Monday with opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez, the front-runner for October's presidential election, according to a spokesman for Fernandez.
Delegates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) land in Buenos Aires Saturday as concerns about Argentina’s economy cast doubt upon the future of its record US$56 billion bailouts. The date of the trip was agreed with the Argentine central bank chairman, Guido Sandleris.
Argentina's new finance minister made stabilizing the country's battered currency his top priority on Tuesday, while still pledging to meet commitments made to the International Monetary Fund, which is sending a team to Buenos Aires.
Argentine President Mauricio Macri on Wednesday unveiled a package of welfare subsidies and tax cuts for lower-income workers to lessen the impact of an economic crisis just months before a re-election bid, but his announcement did not halt the peso currency's collapse.
Alberto Fernandez, the main challenger to incumbent President Mauricio Macri in October elections, said on Thursday that if elected he would seek to “rework” Argentina’s huge financing deal with the International Monetary Fund, calling it “harmful.”
The IMF through its spokesperson at its daily press meeting confirmed that Managing Director Christine Lagarde and her deputy David Lipton effectively met with Argentine president Mauricio Macri, and Economy minister, Nicolás Dujovne at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.
Argentina’s Foreign Minister spoke at a conference in Chatham House about the political and economic changes happening in Latin America.
President Mauricio Macri said on Monday that Argentina was close to a deal with the International Monetary Fund to bolster a US$ 50 billion credit line, while a government source said US$ 3-US$ 5 billion in additional funds could be announced this week.
Argentine president Mauricio Macri said on Tuesday in New York addressing a meeting with potential investors that he was prepared to run for reelection next year, and that there will be no change of course, there is no plan B.