2023-11-19 12:34:00
Unión Por La Patria presidential candidate Sergio Massa gestures during the presidential debate before the second round on November 12, 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Credit: Luis Robayo – Pool/Getty Images.
The current Minister of Economy of Argentina, Sergio Massa, already said it in an interview with local media: “The problem today is that I have both hats on, that of the presidential campaign and that of management.” This could be seen as a disadvantage or as a possibility to show with facts what will come if he stays with the Casa Rosada chair.
However, the data does not seem to help. While the opposition accuses him of using state resources to offer multiple benefits to the population and business sectors in the middle of the campaign, his management of the economic portfolio is burdened by a large increase in year-on-year inflation.
The truth is that since the ruling coalition Unión por la Patria proposed him as a presidential candidate, Massa has not made an official presentation of what his government program would be. However, public statements are giving the guidelines for his plans.
In an interview with LN + he confirmed that at the end of 2024 he would lift the exchange rate, the different restrictions that exist in Argentina for access and transactions in foreign currency for both individuals and companies. According to him, by then he expects there to be a favorable context with low debt maturity, increased exports and a sufficient amount of dollar reserves.
Another sensitive issue that crept into the campaign in Argentina is the war between Israel and Hamas. The official candidate participated in an event organized by the Delegation of Argentine Israeli Associations (DAIA) in repudiation of “terrorist barbarity” and support for Israel. In this context, he established his position: “If on December 10 I have the responsibility of governing Argentina, we are going to include Hamas on the list of terrorist organizations because we are facing a terrorist event,” he promised, according to the official news agency. Telam news.
Hours after that announcement, the Argentine Foreign Ministry, which had already condemned the multiple Hamas attacks on October 7 in southern Israel, at the same time condemned Israel’s attack on a refugee camp in Gaza. Asked about this situation, Massa maintained his position regarding the conflict.
The pillars of Massa’s government plan
Fiscal balance, a trade surplus, a competitive exchange rate and development with inclusion are its main axes, according to what he said in a program on the C5N television channel. “What is coming forward has more income distribution, more public education, more investment in universities,” he promised, although with one caveat: “If I can finish stabilizing the economy.”
For now, that hope seems to be further away every day. After the primary elections in August, he announced a devaluation of the peso against the dollar of 22%, followed by measures to compensate the pockets of certain sectors of society, such as the refund of VAT on products in the basic basket and the elimination of the income tax for a large part of the workers. The latter, with the additional controversy that, according to some critics, it would actually simply extend that benefit to higher-income earners.
Continue reading about Sergio Massa’s proposals here.
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