Peronist leaders put tensions to one side for Abuelas event in La Plata

Former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof put their debate over the future of the Peronist movement to ice on Thursday as they reunited at a human rights event in La Plata.

The two leaders played nice as they attended an event marking the 47th anniversary of the founding of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo human rights group at the Teatro Argentino in La Plata.

Abuelas President Estela Barnes de Carlotto, the iconic rights activist who celebrated her 94th birthday earlier this week, was the go-between who brought them together. 

It was the first time that Fernández de Kirchner and Kicillof have been seen in public together since tensions over the leadership of the Partido Justicialista (PJ), the Peronist coalition’s dominant party, broke out last month.

Fernández de Kirchner, the veteran former head of state (2007-2015) who was vice-president until last December, is the dominant figure in the opposition coalition. 

She has indicated that she is willing to head the PJ nationwide as it looks to renew itself in the wake of last year’s election defeat to President Javier Milei.

The only challenge to her leadership at the moment comes from La Rioja Province Governor Ricardo Quintela.

Kicillof, the governor of the nation’s most-populous region and a powerful Peronist voice, is seen by many as Fernández de Kirchner’s former protegé, given he served two years as economy minister during her second term in office.

But so far, he has yet to publicly voice his support for his former boss’ candidacy to lead the PJ, to her disappointment. 

Last weekend, Kicillof asked for “unity” within the opposition, insisting that Peronism not waste time on the “reproduction” of the “methodologies and conducts” which led to defeat at the ballot box.

“Let us find unity and stop reproducing the methodologies and conducts that got us here”, he stated in a letter he made public, responding to questioning over his support.

Regarding disagreements within the ranks of the PJ, the governor said that no-one should expect him to "fight an internal war; history would not forgive us and neither will the future."

He said he would not respond to criticism from those within his own ranks.

‘Mediator’

Speaking in a radio interview earlier in the day, Carlotto had confirmed that she had acted as a “mediator” between the duo to bring them together, though she said they were both keen to support the Abuelas on their anniversary.

“Cristina is coming and Kicillof told me he would try to make it,” she said. ““I think it’s a very good political sign, because they’re two admirable people and we really need them.”

“Having Axel and Cristina I think was my best birthday present,” said Carlotto.

“They are not enemies, they are political opponents . They did not speak to each other because we all know that they are pursuing their own particular policy,” she added.

Fernández de Kirchner greeted Kicillof when she arrived at the theatre. The two leaders then took seats either side of Carlotto and did not talk between them.

A number of other leading Peronist politicians, including Senator Eduardo ‘Wado’ de Pedro and former Human Rights secretary Horacio Pietragalla Corti were also in attendance.

Addressing the crowd at the Teatro Argentino on Thursday, the veteran human rights leader voiced criticism of President Javier Milei’s government and its human rights policy. 

“We need memory. Those who want us to forget about what happened, that’s because they want to mess up our present and rob us of the future, and we’re not going to allow it,” Carlotto declared.

– TIMES/PERFIL/NA