In a clear signal to the markets, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner strongly rejected on Monday a possible devaluation of the Argentine Peso and targeted sectors advocating for such a measure, as she warned that “those hoping to profit from it will have to wait for a different Government.”
Argentina’ so organized CGT Labour Confederation boss Hugo Moyano, and CTA umbrella union leader Pablo Micheli confirmed on Tuesday a downtown march against the government of President Cristina Fernandez on Wednesday.
Argentine labour unions leaders said that support for the successful national strike was “much stronger than we expected” and urged President Cristina Fernández to listen to “people’s message.”
Argentine farmers’ organizations under the umbrella grouping Liaison Board announced on Tuesday a national strike cancelling all trade in grains, oilseeds and livestock to protest ‘national government policies’ against the land reform and tax hike in Buenos Aires province, among other issues.
Argentine Patagonia Chubut province could move to revoke oil and gas concessions held by Spain’s Repsol controlled oil and gas giant YPF SA as soon as Wednesday, a provincial official said Monday.
The Argentine government agreed with the main farmers’ organizations to grant credits equivalent to 530 million dollars to help combat the drought that affects a large portion of the country and is extensive to neighbouring countries of the Southern Cone.
As extreme drought conditions punish Argentina’s crops throughout the country farmers’ organizations are at loggerheads with the government of President Cristina Fernandez, which is refusing to increase the emergency fund for such situations and to alleviate the tax burden.
Argentine Rural Society’s head, Hugo Biolcati, praised the visit President Cristina Fernández made to Coninagro farmers’ federation, but emphasized that “the claims from our sector will keep coming.”
The farmers’ strike which has been taking in place in Argentina for the past week ended on midnight Sunday but the leaders have warned that members of the relevant rural entities will meet in two weeks, to discuss further measures and that they do not rule out another strike. The current measures had put a halt to the sale of grains.
Argentine farmers threatened to go on strike for a second time this year if the government does not change their policy towards them. At a meeting in Buenos Aires province city, Bahia Blanca, farm workers leaders met to discuss the week-long strike, which began last Monday. Farmers have stopped the sale of wheat, corn and soybean over export curbs.