President Mauricio Macri asked his Cabinet on Thursday to offer Alberto Fernández's team "maximum collaboration," as Argentina prepares for a change of government.
“The president asked all ministers for their maximum collaboration and that we prepare all the elements and materials to deliver to the incoming authorities,” Justice Minister Germán Garavano, flanked by Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie, told the press after today's meeting.
He said the government was awaiting a full of names of officials from the president-elect. Speculation and recent reports say that Santiago Cafiero , Eduardo "Wado" de Pedro, Vilma Ibarra and Gustavo Béliz will play crucial roles. From the government's side, Cabinet chief Marcos Peña will play a central role.
"All Argentines are clearly attending to the republican, institutional and transparency form with which the task of this transition period is bring carried out," Faurie added, saying that Macri had requested an update on all the measures taken and plans being put in place for the handover.
Quizzed about economic stability, Faurie responded that the transition is focused on "the evolution of the day to day," going onto describe the situation as "relative normality."
Macri's hope of winning re-election was extinguished last Sunday, when Fernández eased to victory in the presidential election, taking taking 48.1 percent of the vote, compared to the incumbent's 40.37 percent – enough to win the ballot in the first round. The president responded to news of the loss with a moderate speech, inviting the Frente de Todos rival to breakfast at the Casa Rosada the next day for a meeting.
Those events ran in stark contrast from the handover of the last Cristina Fernández de Kirchner administration and the Macri administration, which was characterised by a lack of cordiality and disagreements. This time around, things seem much more orderly.
For example, as well as the meeting between the president and the president-elect, vice-president-elect Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has already spoken Vice-President Gabriela Michetti. Buenos Aires Province Governor María Eugenia Vidal welcomed her successor, Axel Kicillof, to Government House in La Plata earlier today.
Faurie also took questions on tensions between the new president-elect and Brazil's far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who has yet to congratulate the Peronist leader on his victory.
The foreign minister said it was wise to have "open channels of dialogue" with all nations, saying that Macri was available to help generate improved links "not only with Brazil, but with other countries in the world."
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
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