'If there's a PASO, we'll be there,' Massa tells coalition allies

Economy Minister Sergio Massa on Saturday reignited debate over the ruling coalition’s line-up for the upcoming elections, calling once again for Frente de Todos to field a “unity candidate” in the PASO primaries.

Yet Massa, seen as one of the Peronist front’s most promising candidates for the presidential race, said that if key coalition leaders did opt for a PASO, his political space would sign up and compete.

"I think that the best thing for Argentina and the Frente de Todos is unity, but if it is decided that there will be PASO, sign us up for the PASO. We will be there," declared Massa at the closing of a congress staged by his Frente Renovador party in Malvinas Argentinas, Buenos Aires Province.

Massa took over stewardship of a bolstered Economy Ministry portfolio in August 2022 after the resignations of Martín Guzmán and Silvina Batakis, his predecessors in the post. Speculation has increased in recent weeks that he may resign his post in order to launch a presidential run.

Speaking four days before the deadline for the presentation of electoral alliances expires, the national official sent a clear message to his coalition colleagues: "We don’t extort, we don’t pressure, we give our opinion as political leaders."

"Let no-one play the victim, we are all great. Let no-one hide behind victimhood. Our opinion is that by building unity we can turn the page to put an end to an Argentina of austerity and indebtedness," said the ex-Tigre mayor.

In remarks that matched reporting that he would like to run, but only as a solo candidate, Massa said that lining up behind one presidential hopeful was not a question of “personal vanities” but of offering a clear “course” to voters.