Jorge Asís once again resorted to his ironic and literary style to analyze Argentine politics. Invited to Tomás Rebord’s cycle, the writer used the Chinese horoscope as a metaphorical guide to explain relationships and tensions between figures from the ruling party and the opposition. The intention was not astrological but political: a playful way of talking about power, affinities and ruptures.
It started with the Kirchner family. “Máximo Kirchner is a snake like his mother,” he explained, and concluded: “Among snakes they get along very well.” The “snakes,” in that logic, represent calculation and stealth. Then he recalled: “Kirchner was a tiger. He goes very well with his sister. The tiger is the horse’s best friend. Florencia is a horse.” There, the “tiger” is leadership and courage; the “horse”, loyalty and drive.
When Rebord asked if he knew Axel Kicillof’s sign, Asís responded: “All the relationships between pigs and snakes broke out. Chanchito is Axel, like Macri. Macri is a pig and Larreta is a snake. It was the only relationship that was going well between a pig and a snake.” In his reading, the “chancho” is confident and persevering; the “serpent”, strategist. A lateral way of referring to the break in the PRO and the distance with Kirchnerism.
He continued with Sergio Massa. “Massa is a water rat,” he said, sparking laughter in the studio. And he added: “Typical rat = political professional.” In this key, the “rat” symbolizes cunning and survival.
The most commented section was about the President: “But let’s talk about Milei. Milei is a dog.” And he developed: “The best thing that can happen to you is to have a dog friend and the worst thing that can happen to you is a dog enemy.” The “dog,” in his metaphor, is intense, loyal, and confrontational. Asís extended the category to his ally in Washington: “Trump is a dog.” The comment sparked laughter due to the obvious diplomatic reading.
The writer closed with a phrase that summarized his conceptual game: “There is a solidarity that is more canine than political,” in reference to the link between Milei and Trump.
With humor and oriental symbols, Asís once again showed his method: talking about animals to talk about power, without losing sight of the real fight for control of the State and the identity of each leadership.
