In the politicized climate that the 50th edition of the Buenos Aires International Book Fairmarked since its inauguration by boos, slogans and strong criticism of the government of Javier Milei, the presentation of the Peronist leader Guillermo Moreno It became one of the most emblematic episodes due to its confrontational tone and militant imprint.
The general context of the renowned event already anticipated tensions: during the opening, the public reacted with whistles to the official mentions of the Executive, fired at the figure of the Secretary of Culture Leonardo Cifelli who was present at the meeting. In this framework, Moreno’s appearance was not limited to a traditional exhibition, but rather adopted the format of a political event. His intervention combined economic definitions with open criticism of the course of the national government, in tune with the predominant opposition climate in different spaces of the fair.
Before a packed room and with the presence of militants identified with Peronism, the leader of the group Principles and Values He delivered a speech with an emphatic tone, with direct appeals to the economic and social scenario. “This model does not close anywhere,” he stated in one of the passages most celebrated by the public, and added: “Argentina needs to return to producing and consuming, not speculating.”
The moment of greatest intensity occurred towards the end of the presentation, when the former official abandoned the expository tone and moved on to a harangue dynamic. Surrounded by activists, Moreno began to sing a chant directed against the president, quickly replicated by the audience. The scene, recorded in widely circulated videos, showed the leader setting the rhythm with his hands while the audience chanted: “Bring back Milei’s gorilla”.
Far from moderating the situation, Moreno encouraged participation: “Let it be heard very loudly,” he harangued, and then finished with another phrase celebrated by his followers: “The people always come back.” The presentation of the former Secretary of Commerce thus ended up becoming an emblematic episode of this edition of the Book Fair, where the cultural discussion was crossed by the political and economic situation.
A few weeks ago, on his Instagram account, the leader shared an unusual reel from the start of the presidential campaign. Moreno launched his candidacy, with a view to next year’s presidential elections, using a video edited with AI that reverts to the film Matrix.
Like the classic science fiction feature film starring Keanu Reeves and directed by the Wachowski sisters, the Peronist dressed as the character Neo dodges the bullets of two antagonists. In this spot, unlike Mr. Smith in the saga, there are two boys dressed in the identified T-shirt of libertarian and progressive who shoot at the former official.
In interviews and party events he has drawn timelines of the electoral dispute: his project, he says, “is not secondary, but central.” One of his most significant statements in this sense points to his participation: “2027 is obvious,” suggesting a political intention to compete again for the presidency.
