AFA’S TURN TO STRIKE
Judge Diego Amarante last Monday authorised AFA Argentine Football Association president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia to travel to Colombia and Brazil last week for activities related to football upon payment of a bail of five million pesos. This relaxation of the previous court ban on his travel abroad did not prevent Tapia from suspending on the same day all football matches scheduled for next Thursday and the following weekend in order to protest his court summons on the former day, describing AFA tax arrears (the occasion of his summons) as non-existent. The match suspension was unanimously voted by the 27 of the 30 Professional League club presidents attending the AFA Executive Committee meeting.
PERONIST DISINTEGRATION
Senator Bartolomé Abadala (La Libertad Avanza-San Luis) was re-elected provisional president with the approval of his caucus chief Patricia Bullrich when the authorities for the new Senate were decided last Tuesday but the big surprise was the displacement of Kirchnerism (with as many senators as the government) from the vice-presidency with Carolina Moisés (Convicción Federal-Jujuy) chosen instead. Since Kirchnerism lost both its Neuquén seats last October, the previous vice-president Silvia Sapag was not available for re-election. The decision was announced by Bullrich with Carolina Losada (Radical-Santa Fe) and anti-Kirchner Peronist Alejandra Vigo (Justicialist-Córdoba) to be the other vice-presidents under Moisés despite the objections of Peronist interbloc chief José Mayans (Justicialist-Formosa). Bullrich claimed a majority of 47 of the 72 senators for the new authorities, with the main opposition respected with the choice of Moisés (a Peronist, albeit a maverick), elected by a 45-24 vote. The previous day Moisés bolted the Peronist interbloc alongside Senators Guillermo Andrada (Catamarca), and Sandra Mendoza (Tucumán), objecting to not only its leadership but also the agenda imposed by ex-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Their move split up not only the interbloc but also their own Convicción Federal caucus since its other two members – Fernando Salino (San Luis) and Fernando Rejal (La Rioja) – remain within the Peronist fold. Rather than any individual initiative, two of the senators are perceived as heeding their governors sporadically aligned with President Javier Milei – Raúl Jalil (Catamarca) and Osvaldo Jaldo (Tucumán) – while Moisés has issues with the Partido Justicialista trusteeship of Aníbal Fernández imposed in her province by Cristina Kirchner. Finally, the Senate also chose three new state auditors last Tuesday – a libertarian, a Peronist and a Radical – as well as approving the appointment of Fernando Iglesias as ambassador to Brussels and the European Union with a relatively close vote of 38 in favour and 31 against (including Moisés).
MILEI BLASTS BIG BUSINESS
Far from adopting a defensive strategy after the closure of the Fate tyre manufacturers company with the dismissal of 920 employees, President Javier Milei harshly criticised business sectors last Thursday “for a corrupt system ruining decent Argentines.” On his X social network account, Milei used colloquial language to rubbish Techint’s Paolo Rocca as “Don Chatarrín,” Fate’s Javier Madanes Quintanilla as “Don Gomita Alumínica” and Neumen’s Roberto Méndez as “Señor Lengua Floja,” also calling them “criminals who turn cheap nationalism and national industry into banners to steal.” Milei further echoed his Economy Minister Luis Caputo in blasting textile industrialists, accusing them of “admitting to unprecedented profit margins of 70 percent ... within the old protectionist policies.” The President then described his dispute with businessmen exposed to imports as part of his “cultural battle,” arguing that opening up the economy was the only way to end the extraordinary profits of "crony capitalists who hide behind nationalism to avoid competition and make local products more expensive.” Milei calculated local profit margins as "not less than 22 percent" before tax.
GLACIERS LAW PROTEST
While the Senate was debating the amendment of the 2010 Glaciers Law on Thursday morning, a brief Greenpeace protest outside turned nasty with Federal Police officers attacking and arresting a cameraman from A24 television news channel, Facundo Tedeschini, as he covered the police arresting the dozen or so Greenpeace demonstrators on the Congress stairs. The police then deployed tear gas to deter further media coverage. A handcuffed Tedeschini was later transferred to Ramos Mejía Hospital, where he was found to have suffered blows to his face, an arm and a leg, before being released on the orders of federal judge Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi. The courts have begun summary proceedings against the police brutality. No police injuries were reported. The proposed amendments centre on delegating the definition of glaciers and their surrounding areas to the provinces, who are keen to develop mining. The La Libertad Avanza (LLA) caucus was confident that it could muster 40-41 votes among the 72 senators to approve the reform although time was running out in extraordinary sessions and the Chamber of Deputies would have to give it final approval in ordinary sessions as from next month. Later in the day the Senate gave final approval to the Mercosur-European Union agreement by an overwhelming vote of 69 to three with the only opposition coming from hardcore Kirchnerites (Senators Eduardo ‘Wado’ de Pedro, Juliana Di Tullio and Cándida López). President Javier Milei then wasted no time signing the agreement into law.
BACK IN TOUCH
Venezuelan María Alexandra Gómez said Thursday that for the first time in almost 15 months she had been able to make contact with her husband, Border Guard corporal Nahuel Gallo, detained in Venezuela since late 2024. Gallo was allowed to call her from El Rodeo 1 prison in Caracas to say that he was strong despite being on a hunger strike and denied legal or consular assistance. Gómez posted on her social networks: “We want him FREE, he needs to be with his family. #LibertadParaNahuelYA.” Elisa Trotta, who was Venezuelan ambassador here when Juan Guaidó was internationally recognised as president, held current caretaker president Delcy Rodríguez responsible for Gallo’s hunger strike.
ANTI-COP LETTER BOMB
Three people were injured with burns just before last weekend after a package containing three parcels exploded at the Border Guard Academy in San Nicolás neighbourhood. The package, addressed to former academy director Senior Commander Diego Gasparutti, was reportedly delivered four months ago but the intended target, who last directed the academy four years ago and is now in retirement, did not come until this month to pick it up. Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva rushed to the scene but made no statements to the press. Federal Judge Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi is in charge of the case.
MIRTHA TURNS 99
Iconic television personality Mirtha Legrand has already started the last lap for her century after turning 99 last Monday. Following an active summer season in Mar del Plata, she celebrated with a party at her Barrio Parque residence, inviting some 70 guests, including the almost as iconic and slightly younger television personality Susana Giménez and Senator Patricia Bullrich while countless more people greeted her on her birthday on social media, including Fátima Florez, a former quasi-first lady.
GALLARDO CALLS IT QUITS
Marcelo ‘El Muñeco’ Gallardo coached River Plate for the last time against Banfield last Thursday, officially announcing the end of his second and frustrating stint at the helm of the team after losing 10 of his last 15 matches and leaving the team in 11th place when he had been the most successful manager in the club’s history in his first stint. Ahead of Thursday’s home fixture against Banfield, which River won 3-1 to end their losing streak, Gallardo requested that there be no tribute to his earlier successes but he was roundly cheered by fans – who jeered the players instead.
CHURRO ICON DIES
Juan Carlos ‘Cacho’ Elías, co-founder of the legendary chain of churrerías El Topo making long fried waffle-style pastries, died last weekend at the age of 85 in Necochea. The chain dates all the way back to its first start in Villa Gesell in 1967. Although churros are traditionally sweet, ‘Cacho’ had the idea of filling them with Roquefort cheese.
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