Global Courant 2023-05-02 20:52:33
He is waiting for Vidal to get off to add Ritondo. This would cut the chances of the three that have already launched: Grindetti, De la Torre and Iguacel.
“I don’t know if this is the year to face that responsibility, politics is not a race for positions.” The words of María Eugenia Vidal in Córdoba opened a new chapter in the convoluted scenario of Together for Change and especially of the PRO in the stage prior to the electoral definitions. Inside the party, it was interpreted as the initial enunciation of her decision – she would announce it this week – not to be a candidate for president, something that somehow came to her, although the impact was generated by the possible derivations in the City and the Buenos Aires province.
The PRO dispute in the Buenos Aires territory has attracted attention in recent weeks, due to the concurrent elections arranged by Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and its implications as a challenge to Mauricio Macri. But in the main district of the country, the bids for the configuration of the scenario have been growing and if there will be competition in the PASO both in the category of governor and in the municipalities.
In the province, in turn, the tension is generated within the space of Patricia Bullrich. As Clarín told, Néstor Grindetti, Joaquín de la Torre and Javier Iguacel – the three possible Buenos Aires candidates for the former Minister of Security – are added Cristian Ritondo, aligned with Vidal, in the event that the former provincial president confirms her decision to Don’t go for the Casa Rosada.
Bullrich led a meeting on Thursday with the members of the Buenos Aires PRO table, in his campaign bunker in front of the Plaza de Mayo. The former president of the party entered the room with Ritondo: they had come from having a conversation in another office. The head of the bloc of national deputies had already publicly stated that, between Bullrich and Rodríguez Larreta, he was closer to the former.
“There is a degree of advanced integration. The leaders who respond to Cristian are already Patricia’s candidates or are part of our tables in the municipalities. But there is still no definition ”, they clarified close to Bullrich. A key point goes through Vidal’s positioning. In the event that the agreement is closed, will she be on the side of the former minister and against Rodríguez Larreta?
In turn, the three leaders who have been walking the province with Bullrich, especially Grindetti and De la Torre, are confident that they will be chosen and that there will be an agreement with Ritondo but for another position. “None of the four move the ammeter to Patricia”, they recognized close to one of them regarding the intention to vote for the presidential dispute. The main contribution would be made with the armed forces in the First and Third electoral section. Ritondo, however, maintains that he will be a candidate for governor. “They already offered him alternatives from Larretismo and he rejected them,” they ruled out in his environment.
Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, at the launch of his candidacy, with Diego Valenzuela (mayor of Tres de Febrero) and Diego Santilli, his candidate for governor. Photo: Rafael Mario Quinteros.
Is the competition for governor confirmed?
A little more than 50 days after the closing of the lists, part of the Buenos Aires referents of the space do not finish ruling out the possibility of a single candidate. Diego Santilli, the candidate supported by Rodríguez Larreta, exhibits closeness with leaders of radicalism and the Civic Coalition. Miguel Pichetto, the most explicit, assured that according to his view, Santilli should go to the PASO without competition.
A few days ago leaders explored that possibility, although Bullrich is wary of uniting with a candidate so identified with his rival and the head of government would not agree either. One of the arguments in favor of consensus is linked to the chance that Axel Kicillof will double the general elections for governor of the national elections. “If a candidate wins in the PASO by dragging the ballot for president, then what do we do?” ask those who are pushing the negotiations.
“At the moment it is all I Latina”, they ratified in the sector of the former Minister of Security, to graph the scheme with which there would also be competition in the municipalities, even in some in the hands of the PRO.
As this newspaper published, in the meeting with the Buenos Aires board, Bullrich issued a warning to the mayors aligned with his internal rival. “You ask me for the ballot, why am I going to give you my political capital if you support Larreta? If they do not support me with the same strength and dedication, and they make it public, I am going to present candidates throughout the province,” he told Julio Garro (La Plata), Diego Valenzuela (Tres de Febrero) and Ezequiel Galli (Olavarría), among others.
“The next 10 days are going to be moved”, agreed the referents of the PRO. Vidal’s decision also raises questions about the versions about an eventual candidacy in the City, as a way out of unity in the face of the conflict between Macri and Rodríguez Larreta. The former Buenos Aires president had been denying that possibility, although leaders of her confidence do not close the door on her. “She will depend on Mauricio. She would have to be supported by everyone, but for now he is firm with Jorge (Macri),” she analyzed.
