Argentine elections: Presidential candidates debate amid economic crisis

[sandensea]

Last edited Wed Oct 16, 2019, 10:00 PM - Edit history (2)

Argentina's six presidential contenders held the first of two debates ahead of the October 27 election tonight.

The two-hour debate, held at the National University of the Littoral Law School in the city of Santa Fe at 9:00 p.m. local time, included four main topics: International Relations; Economy and Finance; Human Rights, Diversity, and Gender; and Health and Education.

The format was extemporaneous, with moderators announcing broad topics which candidates could then briefly expound on.

The worst economic crisis in two decades dominated the debate, however, with discussion on other topics often touching on the economy.

Polite sparring

While the debate remained polite, center-left front-runner Alberto Fernández came out swinging against right-wing incumbent Mauricio Macri.

"Four years ago, one of the two candidates in that debate lied a lot," he said. "That candidate is now the president who wants a second term."

On numerous occasions in tonight's debate, Fernández refuted Macri's assertions with data showing sharp cuts in health and education, and a sharp increase in debt interest outlays - while underscoring points of agreement with centrist candidate Roberto Lavagna.

"Kirchnerism hasn't changed," the president shot back, referring to supporters of former presidents Néstor Kirchner and his widow, Cristina Kirchner - who is now Fernández's running mate. "They're back to finger pointing and showboating."

Fernández, 60, and Lavagna, 77, were in the late President Néstor Kirchner's cabinet - whose 2003-07 term is widely credited with raising Argentina from its 2001-02 collapse.

Fernández won the first presidential round on August 11 by an unexpectedly wide 16 points, and most recent polling has him up by 20 points or more.

Narrowly elected four years ago, Macri lost popularity amid discontent over massive utility hikes, a record, $57 billion IMF bailout, a deep recession - and, amid 55% inflation, an estimated 20% loss in average real wages.

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eldestapeweb.com%2Fnota%2Fdebate-2019-en-su-presentacion-alberto-fernandez-trato-de-mentiroso-a-mauricio-macri-201910132190

Argentine presidential candidates in tonight's debate stage included (from left):

Incumbent President Mauricio Macri, 60, of the right-wing Together for Change - led by his hard-right PRO, with voters mainly from the centrist UCR.

Economist José Luis Espert, 57, of the libertarian Unite Front.

Retired Army Major Juan José Gómez Centurión, 61, of the far-right Us Front - backed mainly by disaffected Macri voters, including hard-line pro-life voters and apologists of the last dictatorship.

Former Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna, 77, of the centrist Federal Commitment - supported mainly by anti-Kirchner Justicialist voters and UCR voters disaffected by its Macri-era turn to the right.

Former Chief of Staff Alberto Fernández, 60, of the center-left Front for Everyone - led by the populist Justicialist Party, including former President Cristina Kirchner (his running mate).

Congressman Nicolás del Caño, 39, of the Leftist Workers' Front.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Great getting information on the debate. Cool that other topics sometimes lead back to economy.

That undoubtedly enhanced the evening for Macri and his toadies. The economy can't really be discussed as much as it deserves.

Has it ever actually been a common accusation, Kirchners and their supporters being "finger pointers" and "showboaters?" That simply sounds far more like right-wingers everywhere. They always take the low road.

Helpful getting the chance to see the photos and run-downs on the candidates.

Do you think Centurión's voters will cave in and support Macri? Looks as if they could have a fair number of people within their ranks, considering all the damage Macri has done.

The 27th just isn't that far away. I'll bet a great many people are getting anxious. They have every reason to be seriously concerned.

Thanks for this great article, sandensea.

[sandensea]

2. Fernandez said it best: 'It's not that we always trip on the same rock, it's these same people

who take power from time to time.'

Macri, for his part, refused to shake his hand after the debate. All the other candidates - despite their stark differences in some cases - were cordial, even friendly, to one another in the post-debate handshakes:

As far as the finger-pointing and pedantics, it's a tradition in Argentine politics unfortunately - from all sides. But you can bet all fingers were pointing at Macri last night, who's overseen a debt crisis and economic near-collapse very similar to the dictatorship's.

A lot like the Bush crisis in '08, I might add - except Argentina has no Federal Reserve to paper over the losses (thank God the U.S. does). Plus, Argentina is a only a middle-income country - not well prepared to recover from such crises.

I just hope people remember - though, as you know from our own experience, people do tend to forget.