This Wednesday, March 1, the president Alberto Fernandez leads the opening of the ordinary sessions of Congress and gives his fourth speech in front of the Legislative Assembly. Today he meets with the vice president Cristina Kirchner in the midst of the internal conflicts that the Frente de Todos is going through due to the electoral candidacies.
The president’s words in front of Parliament take place in the middle of the tensions that exist between the Casa Rosada and Kirchnerismaccentuated by the electoral setup for this year’s elections, added to the fact that the President will have to take a seat next to the head of the Senate, with whom he has not shared activity for months.
Six months have passed since the last time the faces of those who were running mates were seen, when the president visited her in her apartment after having suffered the attempted attack against her, and nine since they were shown on stage. On that occasion, she attended an event at YPF, just hours before the former Minister of Production resigned. Matias Kulfasone of Fernández’s loyalists.
The president of the Senate opened the legislative assembly and invited the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Cecilia Moreau, to raise the national flag. Immediately afterwards, all those present in the Chamber of Senators sang the stanzas of the Argentine anthem.
The word of Alberto Fernández
The President began by mentioning the coronavirus pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Then, he highlighted the 40 years of democracy in the Argentine Republic. “Argentina has sustained its institutionality. It is an achievement that everyone should be proud of,” he said.
Then he asked the Justice to deepen the investigation into the assassination attempt on Vice President Cristina Kirchner. He looked towards where Carlos Rosenkrantz and Horacio Rosatti, members of the Supreme Court, are sitting, and emphasized: “I ask (the Justice) to act with the same urgency that it archives cases in which powerful judges, prosecutors or businessmen appear as defendants.” .
Criticism of the media
The head of state called attention to some media that “express economic and political interests opposed to the government” that “intentionally misrepresent reality.”
“I have the peace of mind to make this observation knowing that during my government no one has been censored or punished for their expressions,” he added.
moderation
Picking up the gauntlet on those who accuse him of being moderate or “warm” – including members of La Cámpora -, the President emphatically indicated: “It was I, with my moderation, who guaranteed a vaccine for all Argentines. I was the one who was next to Lula and Evo Morales. I was the one who is next to Cristina when she is unjustly persecuted.”
Justice
Regarding the Argentine Justice, Fernández recalled that as president he does “everything possible so that the Argentine justice once again embraces the law and stops serving power factors persecuting those who represent popular thought.”
Falklands
Fernández celebrated the presence of Juan José Fernández, a former Malvinas combatant. “Today he was able to retire thanks to Law 27,329, he is the father of 3 children, all professionals, and remains active in his vocation to continue serving his country,” he specified.
“I am convinced that the Malvinas unite us in a national cause that summons and mobilizes the Argentine people (…) Let’s say again: the Malvinas were, are and will be Argentine,” he added.
Foreign policy
The president defended his inclusive management in the region and highlighted the fundamental role of the Mercosur regional bloc. “How could we leave if our comrade Lula da Silva is now in Brazil. He provoked us to break Mercosur ”, he assured.
Economy
“I know that there are more of us who do not want an unfair country. The economy grew again during 2022. It grew by 5.4%, one of the fastest growing in recent years. In 2023 we will grow again. It will be three consecutive years of growth in our GDP, something that has not happened since 2008. There is no solution to anything if the economy does not grow. If we don’t grow, there is nothing to distribute,” said the President.
“I do not draw an unreal world” and “I know what is happening,” said the head of state. “I can speak frankly about poverty, inflation, insecurity and low income,” but “I also see how (in that context) they try to generate discouragement and discomfort.”
In this sense, he spoke about the excessive increase in prices: “High inflation is the disorganization of our economy. It is a structural problem that has been going on for decades. It is not an easy task. Those who minimized the problem ended up exacerbating it. We are bound to reduce inflation.
And he warned: “Both the economy minister and I do not need the IMF to know that we must achieve fiscal balance. We also do not need the IMF to know that Argentina must increase its exports, since if we do not generate foreign currency we will not be able to sustain our economic activity”.
In this context, he took the opportunity to thank “Sergio Massa for having joined” the cabinet, as Minister of the Nation’s Economy. “We complied with the fiscal guidelines that we proposed, reducing the fiscal deficit that stood at 2.4% of GDP,” he said.
Nestor Kirchner pipeline
“We will be able to inaugurate the Nestor Kirchner pipeline midyear. It is the most important gas transportation work of the last four decades”, confirmed the President, who took advantage of the topic to question the public-private tender that had activated the management of Mauricio Macri. He also pointed out that the gas pipeline is being developed with contributions from the Treasury and with money collected from the Tax on Great Fortunes.
Convinced, he affirmed that “Argentina is the energy that the world is needing” and added: “We multiplied the production of oil and in fuels and energy 8,397 million dollars were sold abroad. He also recognized the growth of YPF and he had another gesture with Cristina Kirchner when he said that the company “was nationalized” during his term.
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