The President of the NationAlberto Fernandezwas interviewed by the journalist Mary O’Donnellfor Urban Radio Play. In the interview, Fernandez admitted that he does not speak to all of his ministers. On the controversy with Eduardo “Wado” de Pedro, the journalist asked Fernandez what was the point of having ministers with whom “months can go by” without the president speaking. “I have no idea, I am president. I talk to the president every day,” Fernández replied, smiling.
When O’Donnell tried to return to the subject, Fernandez insisted: “I’m not going to spend a second on that, that’s it,” Fernandez declared. “I imagine that one as president wants ministers who respond to him,” O’Donnell insisted. “I know with whom I can govern and with whom not. I govern with those that I can govern”, concluded the president.
The conflict that Fernández had with the Minister of the Interior, Eduardo “Wado” de Pedro, was due to the fact that the camporista leader was offended after the president did not invite him to meet with the Brazilian president. Lula Da Silva and the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. In recent days, Da Silva visited Argentina on the occasion of the CELAC summit. Despite Fernández’s statements, “Wado” is one of those who signs up for the electoral race ahead of the next elections, and it is to be expected that the internship between the president and the minister will deepen.
Beyond the attempt by the head of state to minimize the matter, his words reinforce the fact that he is increasingly locked up, listening only to his inner circle and ignoring the rest of the actors within the government, many aligned with Vice President Cristina Kirchner, the other end of the Frente de Todos. Instead of betting on integration, Fernandez prefers to surround himself with like-minded agents: rather than listen to one of his ministers, who encourages noise among his ranks, the president listens to Enrique “Pepe” Albistur, who today is one of his trusted men. The businessman and publicist, a personal friend of Fernandez, is the one who recommends that he cut ties with the Christian wing of his government, thus fueling the trap of the president and promoting a possible formula between him and Victoria Toulouse Peacewho in turn is the wife of Albistur.
In the next few days there will be a national table with all the referents of the Frente de Todos, to define the electoral strategy of the force facing the next elections. Fernández, who at first was reluctant to promote the meeting, should have given light to the assembly of the summit where, beyond his preferences, he must listen to all parts of his political force.
