News of macri

QUICK TRIP TO ASUNCIÓN

From Paraguay, Macri says Peronist government should be ‘given time’

Today 01:15 Former president Mauricio Macri uses private jet owned by tobacco company to visit Asunción for talks with ex-Paraguay president Horacio Cartes and current leader Mario Abdo Benítez.

AS I SEE IT

Corruption refuses to go away

11-07-2020 09:23 The Kirchnerites could soon have considerably less power than they have today. Without it, Cristina will find it impossible to break free from her chequered past.

by James Neilson

POLARISATION AT WHAT PRICE?

Argentina: Great at failing miserably at democracy

11-07-2020 08:19 What level of tolerance to dissent are we willing to accept? And at which point does the discussion about who thinks what shut out the underlying debates we should be having?

by Agustino Fontevecchia

POLITICS & THE PANDEMIC

The arguing never stops

11-07-2020 08:13 The arguing will never go away. At times it pauses briefly when the public is hit by unsettling news on the coronavirus front, but then, in no time at all, the bickering begins once more.

by Martín Gambarotta

JUNTOS POR EL CAMBIO

Opposition split over coalition’s reaction to Fabián Gutiérrez killing

11-07-2020 08:05 Reports emerge of unhappiness in Juntos por el Cambio coalition over controversial statement issued in wake of Fabián Gutiérrez’s death.

POLARISATION & POLITICS

So much for unity: La grieta returns with a vengeance

11-07-2020 07:42 Tensions between government and opposition soar in week Argentina celebrated Independence Day.

9 de Julio

Fernández calls for unity in face of pandemic on Independence Day

09-07-2020 18:07 "No society realises its destiny amid insults and divisions, and with hatred as a common denominator," declares president at event marking 9 de Julio, lashing out at "serial haters."

Coronavirus pandemic

Macri: 'The government has tried to diminish freedoms' during pandemic

09-07-2020 01:50 Former president breaks silence in online interview, vowing to strengthen his Juntos por el Cambio coalition ahead of next year's midterms and accusing the Alberto Fernández administration of seeking to "diminish freedoms."

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Fernández: New offer to creditors on way, deadline moved to August 4

05-07-2020 22:10 Argentina to present new offer to bondholders on Monday, with deadline extended until August 4.

AS I SEE IT

China will soon come a-calling

04-07-2020 09:25 The coronavirus plague has harmed China’s international reputation, but it has also weakened many developing countries to such an extent that they will find it all but impossible to turn down offers of financial help.

by James Neilson

ILLEGAL ESPIONAGE SCANDAL

The curse of power in Argentina

04-07-2020 08:06 Several of the major corruption cases of the K decade could end up being dropped due to procedural abuses, aiding the newfound lack of political motivation of most magistrates.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

POLITICS & THE PANDEMIC

Metropolitan area blues

04-07-2020 07:29 The display of bipartisan civility, even with disagreements behind the scenes between Buenos Aires City and Province, is now routine. Yet the volatility has not gone away.

by Martín Gambarotta

ILLEGAL ESPIONAGE CLAIMS

22 arrests in illegal espionage probe, including ex-Macri official

02-07-2020 02:47 Susana Martinengo, co-ordinator of presidential documentation during the 2015-2019 Macri presidency, and 21 others detained on charges of illegal espionage against various political leaders.

CRISTINA & ALBERTO

Is she winning?

27-06-2020 08:23 The major shock to the president’s credibility, though, was the failed expropriation of agro-giant Vicentín. Not only are a lot more people against the measure, but also the sensation that it’s of Cristina’s making, not Alberto’s.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

100 DAYS OF QUARANTINE

Hibernation time

27-06-2020 08:09 The pandemic is a tremendous challenge for the metropolitan area. Only history will explain the true extent of economic devastation in the region.

by Martín Gambarotta

ILLEGAL SPYING CLAIMS

AFI illegal espionage claims put Macri in spotlight

13-06-2020 10:13 Government-appointed trustee of AFI federal intelligence agency alleges illegal espionage carried out on politicians, journalists, academics and businesspeople during former president’s Mauricio Macri 2015-2019 administration. Among those probed are two Buenos Aires Times staffers.

by James Grainger

ILLEGAL ESPIONAGE

The spy's ghost

13-06-2020 08:22 Either the intelligence agencies were an absolute mess during the Macri years, or they were complicit in not only gathering illegal information but also extortion and all sorts of other improprieties.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

ILLEGAL ESPIONAGE CLAIMS

AFI conducted illegal espionage on more than 400 journalists during Macri era

08-06-2020 00:12 Cristina Caamaño, government-appointed trustee of AFI federal intelligence agency, files complaint alleging officials conducted illegal espionage on 500 journalists, academics and business leaders, including two Buenos Aires Times staffers, during the Mauricio Macri administration's time in office.

ON CAPITAL FLIGHT

Cristina & Macri’s pornographic obsession with the dollar

06-06-2020 08:38 Monetary debasement is a policy that every Argentine government since the return of democracy has collaborated with, and those “smart” enough to play the game have always stored their wealth as far as they can from Argentine pesos, Macri and Cristina included.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

SECURITY FORCES

PRO condemns institutional violence in statement

05-06-2020 01:49 Party of former president Mauricio Macri condemns actions of security forces and calls for "peace and security" – prompting an immediate backlash on social media.

SPIES AND LIES

Once again, time is going backwards

30-05-2020 09:09 Alberto’s Frente de Todos coalition is walking in his predecessor’s footsteps, perpetuating the never-ending cycle of institutional reform of the Judiciary and the intelligence agencies.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

FORMER PRESIDENT

Macri, ex-spy agency chiefs face probe over alleged illegal espionage

29-05-2020 16:47 Former president Mauricio Macri indicted as part of investigation into claims more than 80 individuals – including journalists and politicians – were victims of illegal espionage from AFI spy agency during his 2015-2019 government.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner files ‘lawfare’ writ with IACHR

05-05-2020 23:22 Télam confirms former president has filed writ before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights accusing previous Macri government of "political discrimination and persecution."

Coronavirus pandemic

Macri signs manifesto accusing government of creeping 'authoritarianism'

23-04-2020 23:44 Document issued by Madrid-based Fundación Internacional para la Libertad, signed by former president and a host of PRO officials, accuses Fernández administration of using pandemic as an excuse to introduce authoritarian measures.

TWO HOURS WITH THE PRESIDENT

Alberto Fernández: ‘Every time I speak, I’m saying the truth – I don’t lie’

18-04-2020 08:14 In a feature-length interview, Argentina's president addresses the coronavirus pandemic and opens up about his private life and relationship with both Peronism and Radicalism, explaining why he is more a child of hippie culture than Peronist doctrine.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

Spin-doctor's assessment

Durán Barba praises Fernández's handling of coronavirus crisis

09-04-2020 23:27 Political guru, who helped Macri to presidency in 2015, tells Juntos por el Cambio leaders to "think about the country" and "stand as Argentines, rather than as the opposition."

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

35.5% of Argentines were living in poverty at end of 2019, says INDEC

01-04-2020 23:01 Some 16 million people were considered to be living below the poverty line at the end of 2019, according to official data published Tuesday.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Surveys show strong support for Fernández's handling of virus crisis

27-03-2020 15:26 Although economic concerns run high among the Argentine population, polling suggests most Argentines approve of Peronist leader's measures to mitigate the harms of Covid-19.

by Jennifer Heiman

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Unemployment rate dropped to 8.9% in last quarter of 2019

27-03-2020 00:01 Argentina's unemployment rate fell in the fourth quarter of 2019, the INDEC national statistics bureau revealed Thursday, adding that underemployment rose.

BBC WORLD QUESTIONS

Panel of experts debate Argentina’s future on BBC World Service

13-03-2020 19:18 BBC World Service’s ‘World Questions’ event affected by coronavirus outbreak – so experts hold debate without an audience, prompting series of fiery exchanges.

by James Grainger

Cross Kirchnerite

Boudou: ‘Macri's was the most corrupt government in history’

10-03-2020 21:57 Jailed former vice-president Amado Boudou renews talk of 'lawfare,' criticises farming sector strike and alleges Mauricio Macri persecuted his opponents to cover up corrupt exploits.

LAWFARE AND GOVERNMENT

Lawfare reloaded: Cristina, Macri & Alberto

07-03-2020 10:25 It is imperative that corruption accusations are investigated thoroughly, both under the Kirchner and Macri administrations. Grave accusations are thrown around loosely in Argentina, yet there are few instances in which they have actually gone to trial.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Courts probe cases involving ex-Macri administration officials

07-03-2020 09:49 Ex-VP Gabriela Michetti accused of defrauding state; Macri, Alonso and Aranguren also in spotlight.

Correo Argentino

Commercial judge places Correo Argentino under trusteeship

06-03-2020 17:23 Decision followed a writ filed by Attorney General Carlos Zannini and commercial prosecutor Gabriela Boquin.

Interview

BBC correspondent Jonny Dymond: 'It's very difficult to ignore Argentina'

06-03-2020 11:54 Ahead of next week's BBC World Questions panel debate in Buenos Aires, Royal Correspondent Jonny Dymond discusses global commonalities, Harry and Meghan and swotting up on Argentina.

by Anina Hoffman

Bloomberg

Brazil, Argentina compete Inter-American development bank top job

04-03-2020 16:50 Brazil is pushing for its own candidates to lead the Inter-American development bank, competing with Argentina; a decision will likely come between July and September.

Abortion debate

Silvia Lospennato: 'Numbers are good' in lower house for abortion vote

04-03-2020 14:05 Opposition lawmaker, who drew headlines in 2018 after impassioned plea during abortion debate in Congress, praises President Fernández's leadership in renewed push to legalise procedure in Argentina.

INVESTIGATION

Barros Schelotto, Tevez linked to Macri family wind farm business

28-02-2020 08:00 Former Boca Juniors coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto and star forward Carlos Tevez contributed nearly US$18 million to Macri’s family business, Sideco Americana, which in 2016 acquired six wind farms – purchases that are now being investigated by the courts.

by Emilia Delfino

Salary Disputes

Teachers: Main unions reach agreement with government on pay

27-02-2020 16:59 Collective bargaining talks for teachers, frozen since 2017, ends with agreement: 23,000 peso pay-floor from March, rising to 25,000 pesos in July.

Debt Crisis

IMF says debt talks with Argentina are 'conversations, not negotiations'

27-02-2020 16:11 IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice tempers excitement over debt restructuring, noting that Argentina and the IMF have yet to formally open negotiations over how to restructure US$44 billion credit-line.

ECONOMIST

Ex-INDEC director Jorge Todesca dies at 73

21-02-2020 16:58 Economist tasked with restoring the integrity of the INDEC under the Macri administration has died just weeks after leaving his post, family confirms.

Bloomberg

Default rocks the Argentine brokers who sell soy to the world

21-02-2020 12:23 Soy giant Vicentin files for bankruptcy, posing a threat to the Argentine soy industry.

BLOOMBERG: OPINION

Argentina’s government needs to speak with one voice on debt

21-02-2020 08:38 Before Argentina can come up with a solid economic plan, it needs a credible political pact. That takes a government which speaks with one voice, mutes the palace incendiaries and treats debt and economic recovery not as a passion play but as part of a national business plan.

by Mac Margolis

Federal investigation

Judge probes whether Messi was spied on by government agencies

20-02-2020 20:28 Federal justice is investigating whether former Macri administration officials illegally used information systems to spy on star Lionel Messi, as well as dozens of local politicians, judges, journalists and businessmen.

by Cecilia Devanna

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Fernández revokes Macri decree creating witness protection agency

20-02-2020 16:51 DNU, issued in final days of Macri's time in office, would have seen responsibilities for witness protection taken away from Justice Ministry in favour of a specialist, autonomous agency.

DEBT TALKS

Famed economist concerned Argentina is on road to 'total default'

20-02-2020 09:00 Economists, including respected Turkish academic Nouriel Roubini, warn that Argentina's lack of credibility and a coherent economic plan may mean negotiations with IMF end up fruitless.

JUNTOS POR EL CAMBIO

Mauricio Macri quietly returns to political activity

18-02-2020 10:06 Former president opens new office on Avenida del Libertador, three blocks from the Olivos presidential residence; meets with Rodríguez Larreta, Patricia Bullrich and Pichetto.

by Ezequiel Spillman

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Cristina raises stakes for Argentina's crucial talks with IMF

15-02-2020 09:17 Vice-president lays into IMF, as government officials welcome mission team to Argentina.

E-Commerce Giant

Marcos Galperin resigns as president and CEO of MercadoLibre

14-02-2020 16:12 Argentine entrepeneur, who has led website to multi-billion-dollar success, will be replaced by Brazilian businessman Stelleo Passos Tolda.

Colectivo chaos

38 bus routes affected by 24-hour UTA dissident strike

11-02-2020 12:52 Dissident faction of transport-workers union makes move against UTA leader Roberto Fernández, as it decries falling purchasing power.