Banker Jorge Brito closely watching Peronist leadership race

As the Kirchnerite element of the opposition Peronist coalition struggles to contain a bitter internal power struggle, the prospect of an outsider stepping in to restore balance is gaining ground, particularly from within Partido Justicialista (PJ), the movement’s main party. 

Jorge Brito, the banker who has on more than one occasion spoken out in favour of “fiscal balance,” echoing part of the rhetoric of President Javier Milei, appears to be an option capable of uniting very different voices that are unhappy with the prospect of the letter ‘K’ — that of (Cristina Fernández de) Kirchner and (Axel) Kicillof – continuing to dominate the political landscape.

Like ex-president Mauricio Macri before him, Brito began his political career in football. Just like the PRO leader, he is the youngest member of a powerful family. And, like former head of state, he chaired a major club – River Plate – where his tenure was more notable for its institutional achievements than for sporting success.

It was at the Monumental that the owner of Banco Macro began to forge a profile that appeals to different sectors of Peronism – or what was once known as ‘Republican Peronism’ – and began charting a course that could end in a candidacy representing the centre-right within the party with the largest membership. 

An interesting note, Brito’s relationship with Sergio Massa is not the same as that of his father, who was a mentor to the former Tigre mayor.

Brito has not yet confirmed his candidacy. But those close to him acknowledge two things: that support for him is growing and that he would only stand as a candidate in a primary against a Kirchnerite candidate, such as Kicillof, which refutes any claims that he is the “rational leader” Mauricio Macri is seeking to represent the PRO. Those close to the banker maintain that this hypothesis should be ruled out

One leading Peronist figure, Sergio Berni, was categorical: “I am excited about Jorge Brito’s presidential candidacy,” he said in a recent interview.