Mauricio Macri and Horacio Rodriguez Larreta had a private meeting this morning at the Tenis Club Argentino to discuss the economic and financial situation in the country, Pro’s electoral strategy, and the contested issue of control of the city. Sources claim that Larreta did not reveal any plans for succession. The meeting has sparked electoral speculation and put pressure on the Pro leadership as the deadline for registration of lists approaches. While Macri is considering a return to national politics to regain power, Larreta seeks to rebuild the party and form an agreement with his former mentor. The two leaders have contrasting views on the future of JxC, with Larreta favoring a centrist approach and Macri distrusting it. The meeting fueled rumors about Larreta’s plans for the assembly, which he hides for now. In the meantime, Larreta is exploring two alternatives to ensure alliance with Lousteau: running with very few chances or promoting a single ballot vote in the city, which Macri’s circle rejects. Their deteriorating relationship has worsened with Larreta’s bid for opposition party leadership, and Macri, who seeks to avoid another mistake with control of the Ribera club, has filled his team with loyal leaders. They will meet again at Vidal’s wedding tomorrow.
Mauricio Macri y Horacio Rodriguez Larreta they met alone this morning at the Tenis Club Argentino. Throughout the conversation, they analyzed the economic and financial situation of the country, discussed Pro’s electoral strategy and evaluated the scenario throughout the interior and in the City, the thorniest issue. There was no definition of Larreta’s succession, according to Buenos Aires sources. “They dedicated thirty seconds to the City. They reviewed the closures of Pro lists and alliances in Córdoba, Santa Fe and Salta ”, they slipped.
Larreta told his people that they dedicated part of the conversation to discussing the national situation, in particular, the consequences of the economic deterioration and financial turmoil after the forced debt swap of Sergio Massa. They evaluated with concern the acceleration of the crisis and the impact on the social fabric. The Buenos Aires chief did not ask him if he wants to dispute the Presidency again.
The conclave between the opposition leaders fueled electoral speculation and put the Pro leadership on edge. With three months to go before the end of the legal term for the registration of lists, Macri and Larreta are aware that the time for definitions is accelerating . For the former president, the dilemma involves confirming whether or not he wants to return to the forefront of politics to compete in the next elections and try to regain national power. Already launched in the presidential race, the head of the Buenos Aires government seeks to rebuild and reach an agreement with whom he was his mentor for eight years around a crucial issue for the future of Pro: control of the city.
With this background, Macri and Larreta met this morning Tenis Club Argentino while thousands of Kirchner militants mobilized along Libertador Avenue for Remembrance Day. The Buenos Aires boss asked the founder of Pro for a meeting as soon as he returned to the country after his stay of several weeks in Europe. The haste with which Larreta wanted to meet with the former president aroused intrigue and speculation within the macrismo: does the mayor already have a “solution” for the conflict over the Buenos Aires succession? For now, he does not intend to make it explicit. He considers that there is still time left for the final phase of the negotiation for the closing of lists on June 24. “We are working to converge with Mauricio”, They replied with a pacifying tone from Uspallata.
Larreta was satisfied after the “55 minute” talk with the former president. But he withdrew as he had arrived: with no sign of whether Macri plans to run again. “There is a consensus that it will not be, it will not play”, they say in the dome of the City. His collaborators repeat that they barely mentioned the Buenos Aires issue and that all the applicants are still in the race. They also deny that options have been evaluated to guarantee clear rules and fair play a Martin Lousteau for competition, such as Single Paper Ballot. An instrumental theme for larretism.
In Macri’s circle of confidence they repeat that he is not “eager” to learn about the plans of the Buenos Aires boss at Pro’s headquarters. It is that for the former president there is nothing to discuss: Jorge Macri he is his chosen one to inherit the City. Now, he just waits for Larreta to offer a roadmap to progressively “lower” the own candidates that he planted on the field to challenge his cousin: Fernán Quirós, Soledad Acuña and Emmanuel Ferrario. It is clear that Macri distrusts the agreement that Larreta sealed with Martin Lousteauaspiring Buenos Aires chief of the UCR. “Mauricio is not in a hurry or anxious about the City. That is already resolved. The problem is with Horacio”, they comment near Macri.
In Larreta’s environment they downplayed the significance of the meeting. It’s not going to be D-Day”, ventured close to the Buenos Aires boss hours before the conclave. Larreta is usually annoyed that the media and the red circle talk about the inmates in JxC and their “summits” with Macri. He insists that they have known each other for 20 years and have never broken the bridges of dialogue. What’s more, he boasts of talking very frequently with the founder of Pro. He is careful not to criticize him, he only points out his differences with his movements on the board. They agree on the political and economic scenario, but disagree on the future orientation of JxC. Macri does not feel represented by his “anti-grievance” speech or his Acordista proposal to support the reforms. For the mayor, the Presidency is reached by the “middle avenue”, that is, with the support of the center of the electorate and the least politicized voters.
Until now, Larreta hides her plans for the assembly in the City. Challenged by the blessing of Macri and Bullrich to his Minister of Government, he brought Quirós, Acuña and Ferrario into the ring. He says that he will prioritize the Pro candidate, but worries about guaranteeing Lousteau clear rules of competition. Larreta explores two alternatives to take care of that alliance: unfolding the elections -she runs with very few chances, but it is not ruled out- or promoting a vote with a single ballot in the City. In that case, the head of government would be elected on the same day as the president, but the ballots would be separate. Using the single electronic ticket would be much more cumbersome. Close to Macri they reject that idea, which is also promoted by Lousteau’s radicals. “We already told them no”, warn. Lousteau wants to hang on the ballot of all JxC presidents or split the Buenos Aires election from the national one. He knows that the Pro has the most competitive figures in the fight for the Casa Rosada and he doesn’t want them to tilt the field.
Among the former officials of Cambiemos who surround Macri, they remember that the former president gives the example of his experience with Boca Juniors when he talks about the city. He considers that he lost control of the Ribera club because he moved away and delegated Daniel “El Tano” Angelici the design of his succession. “He is not willing to make the same mistake”, says one of his regular interlocutors. For this reason, while meditating on whether or not he will contest the Presidency again -an idea that “is not buried”, according to his close friends-, Macri set himself two objectives: to keep the City in the hands of Pro and to wrest Juan roman riquelme political power in Boca Juniors. For that reason, he offered his friend Andres Ibarra occupy a place on the list.
Since they clashed in 2021 over the electoral setup and the handling of the “pencil”, the relationship between Macri and Larreta has suffered a constant deterioration. Although they chat very often and have regular meetings, the mayor’s decision to dispute the leadership of the main opposition party with the goal of reaching the Casa Rosada put Macri on guard. With no intention of retreating, the former president moved his chips and gathered power to surround his challenger. He filled the teams with loyal leaders Patricia Bullrich to balance the fight -she asked them to “help”, despite the fact that the former minister does not want to repeat the experience of Puerta de Hierro-, she promoted the presidential candidacy of Mary Eugenia Vidalseized the application of Diego Santilli in Buenos Aires in alliance with those injured by Larretism and used his finger to anoint his cousin, Jorge, as Larreta’s successor in the City, before the Buenos Aires boss built his own. In parallel, he approached figures from the UCR who recognize his power of influence in Pro and do not respond to the tandem that formed Gerardo Morales and Lousteau, strategic partners of Larreta. the chat with Facundo Manes in Los Abrojos it was his last stitch on the radical map. “You are in every right to present yourself and it is likely that you will win the internship. But I’m going to compete anyway, because it works for me,” the neurologist whispered.
As for Larreta, Macri sensed that his former subordinate sought to “retire” him ahead of time. That’s why he enjoyed being asked for a photo at their last meeting alone in Cumelén. Larreta repeats that he is willing to face him in the STEP if the creator of Pro signs up for the race. This is how they arrived at today’s conclave at the Tenis Club Argentino.
Tomorrow they will meet again in a more festive and less bellicose climate: Vidal’s wedding with Enrique Sacco in San Antonio de Areco.
The meeting between Mauricio Macri and Horacio Rodriguez Larreta at the Tenis Club Argentino has fueled electoral speculation and put the Pro leadership on edge. With three months left before the end of the legal term for the registration of lists, Macri and Larreta are aware that the time for definitions is accelerating. While the two leaders discussed the economic and financial situation of the country, their conversation sparked intrigue and speculation within the macrismo. For now, Larreta has not expressed his succession plans, nor has Macri revealed if he will contest the Presidency again. As the political atmosphere heats up, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Pro and who will lead Buenos Aires in the upcoming elections.