Francos suggests ‘Peronist sympathies’ behind Pope’s criticism of Argentina

Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos has hit back at Pope Francis, alleging his “Peronist sympathies” are behind his criticism of President Javier Milei’s government.

Last week, Francis vindicated the right to social protest and criticised the tactics of Argentina's security forces in policing a recent demonstration.

During a meeting in Rome on Friday with representatives of social movements from around the world, the Pope – who was born Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires – told of seeing a video of “people asking for their rights in the street” and said that “the government put its foot down” and “instead of paying for social justice, it paid for pepper spray.”

He did not mention Argentina or name President Javier Milei, but he appeared to refer to a September 12 demonstration in Buenos Aires against the head of state’s recent veto of law increasing pensions, during which police used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters.

Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni initially played down the remarks and avoided criticising the pontiff, but on Sunday, Francos spoke out. 

“Argentina has been experiencing an economic problem for many years. And even if one has all the social sensitivity, as Bergoglio has, there is no magic unless he considers that a miracle can be done about it,” Francos said in an interview with Radio Mitre.

“We have had inflation of 15 percent, 25 percent, in the last months of last year, and we did not hear the Holy Father say ‘There is a social problem in Argentina because there is very high inflation’,” he said.

“There are several things that are striking about Bergoglio's attitudes, and many attribute them to his sympathies towards Peronism,” said Francos.

“Lowering inflation is a social policy,” he argued.

– TIMES/AFP