CFK attacks Michetti, Lanata, Massa in new leaked recordings

Recordings from the tapped telephone conversations between Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and former AFI intelligence agency chief Oscar Parrilli continued airing this week.

The leaks have captivated Argentines not only for their insight into the former president’s frame of mind and political tactics, but also for her use of profanity to describe her opponents.

Controversial journalist Luis Majul has played new recordings every day this week on his Libre programme on Radio Berlin.

MICELI, MICHETTI

In the latest recordings, Senator Fernández de Kirchner compares former Economy minister under Néstor Kirchner, Felisa Miceli, with the current Vice-president Gabriela Michelli.

Miceli was forced to quit in 2007 after a Perfil investigation by Jorge Lanata which revealed the existence of a bag found in her office bathroom containing 100,000 pesos and US$31,670. In 2016, Vice-president Michetti’s home was robbed, with thieves taking 245,000 pesos and US$50,000. Michetti was put under investigation for undeclared funds but was later acquitted.

“Miceli, Michetti, they’re more or less the same”, Fernández de Kirchner says in the recording (though failing to take into account inflation). She then encourages Parrilli to make the comparison publicly, indicating that the press had treated two similar situations differently for political reasons.

“How strange that Lanata hasn’t said anything”, she says. “Attack him for that tomorrow!”

Michetti “pretends to be the Holy Virgin (Mary)”, Fernández de Kirchner concludes.

MASSA, STOLBIZER

The former president also takes aim at her former Cabinet chief Sergio Massa. The Renewal Front leader has struggled in recent years to shed his Kirchnerite past to the benefit of both President Mauricio Macri and Fernández de Kirchner herself.

“He used to play soccer (with Néstor Kirchner at the Olivos presidential palace) every Friday”, she tells Parrilli. “Put him to shame, Oscar!”

During the call, Fernández de Kirchner can be heard sitting down at her computer to find the name of Margarita Stolbizer's nephew, an alleged drug dealer.