Quintela and the Peronists; Weird scarecrow strategy
Most Argentines are telling pollsters that they would like something to change next year. But polls measuring voting intention still have Milei either in the lead or neck-and-neck with his main opponent. Leer más
As President Javier Milei struggles to maintain his popularity, polling data shows him either leading or tied with his main opponent. The paradox lies in the opposition's strategy. Ricardo Quintela, one of the six Peronist provincial governors, adopted a provocative stance at a Peronist summit marking the 50th anniversary of a bishop's murder.
He threatened to nationalize or expropriate to reverse Milei's economic policies, despite not necessarily believing in it. Quintela exemplifies an opposition party sacrificing its messaging for internal power struggles. Many Peronists, like Quintela, remember the neo-liberal privatizations under former President Carlos Menem and are hesitant to change course.
Quintela's comments, meant to stand out in a crowded field, reveal the contradictions facing Peronist frontrunner Axel Kicillof. Kicillof's past has spooked investors, and his surname resembles that of former President Cristina Kirchner, who recently filed complaints to the UNHRC, alleging biased sentencing, unfair house arrest terms, and an illegal lifetime ban.
This situation creates a Catch-22 for the Partido Justicialista: a non-contender and a challenger struggling to gain legitimacy. The Peronists' infighting and focus on themselves may result in four more years of Milei's rule.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
