CFK: 'With these results we could maintain or increase our majority in Congress'

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said that the results obtained by the Victory Front in the PASO primary elections suggest that her party “may be able to maintain a majority in both houses of Congress.”
“We may be in conditions to maintain – and I think maybe even increase – the Victory Front’s presence in Congress,” she said in a speech she gave from the FPV headquarters.
She also said the Victory Front “is the largest political party in the country and we’re the Government,” as she warned that the Executive must remain the most responsible branch of government.
She also rejected that the opposition is “David” while the National Government is “Goliath,” as pre-candidate Sergio Massa said several times during his campaign.
“Considering that a large section of the media is against us, we are the David in this,” she stated.

Article taken from here.

With an eye on the Pink House

Primary elections are an opinion poll
Like most Argentine institutions, “primary elections” are a North American product that may have worked well enough in the US, a country whose inhabitants are happy to get along with just two big parties, but is of little use here where there are dozens of them and every self-respecting politician feels free to invent his or her own. Not surprisingly, many people dislike being obliged to vote in elections in which nobody will actually be elected, though they may be allowed to choose the candidates who in October will represent an improvised leftist coalition in Buenos Aires City.
Even so, townships up and down the country have been plastered with pictures of individuals who, with a smile, exhort people to vote for them because “they can”, or might want to “join in”, belonging to mysterious political factions identified by a number (list 7524 has the answer, we are helpfully informed) that may, or may not, be connected to Cristina’s Victory Front, some other Peronist outfit, what is left of the Radical Civic Union or, perhaps, a tiny neighbourhood grouping that dreams of taking over the local municipality from the scoundrels who currently run it.
Politics in Argentina being a top-down affair in which the party boss always has the final say when it comes to naming the candidates, by general agreement the primaries are being treated as an unusually inquisitive opinion poll. As it is assumed that the results will tell us how Cristina’s popularity is holding up and whether the Tigre mayor Sergio Massa is a serious presidential contender or merely another attractive image that, like a jellyfish exposed to the sun, will melt under scrutiny, senior politicians are taking them seriously.
Cristina certainly is. She has gone to quite extraordinary lengths to improve the chances of her young representative, Lomas de Zamora mayor Martín Insaurralde, cheerfully trampling on the electoral rules, getting him a photo op with Pope Francis and making full use of the State’s resources to finance what in theory is his campaign. For weeks now, campaign ads showing Cristina, Insaurralde and the Buenos Aires Province governor Daniel Scioli, accompanied by the habitual inane slogans, have been popping up in the Internet sites of a wide range of foreign newspapers, right-wing and left-wing blogs, places frequented by enthusiasts for minority sports, those interested in scientific developments, religious controversies, literary affairs and, no doubt, many less respectable pursuits.
The consensus is that, unless Insaurralde manages to get more votes than Massa, Cristina will be in deep trouble. Argentine politicians do not treat lame ducks with the kindness they deserve. Should the word get round that Cristina really will have to leave the Pink House in December 2015, people who up to now have been among her most fervent supporters will immediately start trying to ingratiate themselves with whoever they think is most likely to succeed her. In other countries, that would merely mean that the next couple of years would see plenty of political bickering. In Argentina, the loss of power by a president accustomed to behaving like an absolute monarch of the old no-nonsense school, one, moreover, who has assembled a sort of Praetorian Guard of people who are not exactly democrats, could give rise to a huge political crisis similar to the one that drove Fernando de la Rúa from office.
As Cristina and her more rackety followers are well aware, plenty of people would like to see the lot of them clapped in jail for helping themselves to large dollops of taxpayers’ money. So, if Insaurralde fails to surprise all the pundits by sweeping to a splendid victory, they would have little choice but to depend either on Massa’s presumed reluctance to make waves or, as would be more likely, on the help they could receive from Scioli, a man many Kirchnerites dislike intensely because they suspect that deep down he is a “neoliberal” but who, nonetheless, has remained, at least nominally, one of their number.
Barely a month ago, many assumed that Scioli had made a big mistake by refusing to ally himself with Massa. Since then, most have changed their mind. Scioli’s strategy has always been to put up with the president’s tantrums and the insults thrown at him by her “soldiers” in part because he needs federal money to keep his province’s public employees more or less happy, and in part because he has always thought that sooner or later the ruling cabal would have to find a successor to Cristina capable of bringing in the votes. As Scioli is the only person who says he supports the government who fits the bill, he is better placed than anybody to offer the country the “continuation and change” that it appears to want. That may prove a possible combination, but promising to deliver it could enable him to win the next presidential election.
Scioli has played a substantial role in the primary campaign. Politicians familiar with the ways of Buenos Aires Province have noted that support for Insaurralde has risen sharply in the districts where he has been most active. So too have many Kirchnerites. Distasteful as Scioli may be to the fanatics who would like to believe they are ramming through something resembling a revolution, they have come to appreciate that he could be the only person who is popular enough to save them from an uncomfortable fate. If Insaurralde loses by a small margin, as many predict, that would be attributed to the help he received from Scioli who would then be hailed as the coming man. Were he to win big, his prospects would look only slightly dimmer because Cristina would benefit, but should Massa romp to a decisive victory, he would face a far stronger challenge than he would like in what he must fondly believe is his own personal fiefdom and therefore in the country as a whole.


 Article taken from here.

Chinese investment flocks to Argentina

Argentina is one of China's new investment frontiers.

China's investments in Argentina are mostly in the oil and gas sector, but there are also six thousand Chinese-owned general stores.

Al Jazeera met one Chinese shopkeeper and asked why he now calls Buenos Aires home.

Big guns Independiente relegated for first time

For the first time in its 100 years of history, the Avellaneda giants were relegated to the National B after being defeated 1-0 in a match against San Lorenzo. The “red devils” were expecting for a miracle as they needed both Argentinos and San Martín to lose both matches.
Record seven times South American champions Independiente became the second major Argentine team in two years to be relegated for the first time on Saturday.
The Red Devils, who could not afford to drop another point, lost 1-0 at home to San Lorenzo and went down with one match to go in the "Final" championship.
With Union already relegated, the third spot for next season in the second-tier Primera B Nacional will go to the wire with Argentinos Juniors or San Martin, who both won on Sunday, the teams in danger.
"We could do no more. When you depend on others (for results) that's that," said rugged defender Cristian Tula after San Lorenzo's victory with a goal by striker Angel Correa.
Relegation in Argentina has been determined since the early 1980s by teams' average points over three seasons with the bottom three in that table going down.
Like River Plate, Independiente were victims not so much of a poor 2012/13 campaign as mismanagement on and off the pitch over at least the past three seasons.
In contrast, they are in 12th place in the "Final", the second of two championships in the season, with a run-in that lifted fans' hopes as they had picked up 12 points from their last nine matches, although only two from the last four.
San Martin are seventh in the "Final" table but in danger of relegation after only two seasons in the top flight which shows how hard it is for teams to keep their status.
Independiente won the Libertadores Cup, the region's elite club tournament, seven times between 1964 and 1984, lifting the Intercontinental Cup, precursor to the Club World Cup, twice.
But the glory days are a distant memory and Argentine FA president Julio Grondona, who was Independiente chairman before taking the AFA post in 1979, feared the worst after last weekend's 2-1 defeat at River Plate.
"This is a big blow but football's like that, it happened to River too," Grondona said after Boca Juniors were left as the only team never to be relegated from the top flight.
In the last 20 years, Independiente have managed only two league titles, boosting their domestic tally to 14 as the third most successful club after River (33) and Boca Juniors (24) in the professional era that began in 1931.
Now they must prepare for the tough second-tier from which River re-emerged as champions at the first attempt.
Former leading Independiente players such as ex-Napoli and Argentina striker Daniel Bertoni say the club must urgently take on a coach and players capable of handling the very different conditions in the Primera B Nacional.

Article taken from here.

Argentina's reaction to Thatcher's death

Britain and Argentina went to war in 1982 over islands in the South Atlantic that Britain calls the Falklands, and Argentina, the Malvinas. Margaret Thatcher was prime minister then. For the reaction in Argentina to Thatcher's death, we are joined by CCTV correspondent Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires.

Argentina: 'Dirty War' dictator dies in prison

Videla was jailed in 2010 for the deaths of 31 dissidents during the 1976 to 83 military dictatorship. Thousands of people 'disappeared' during this period known as the "Dirty War".

Videla and two other military leaders staged a coup in 1976 when he became de facto president.

From that moment a campaign to rid the country of left-wing activists began. Right groups say up to 30,000 people were kidnapped and murdered .

Last year Videla was also convicted of overseeing the systematic theft of at least 400 babies from political prisoners.

With the eventual end of military rule and the introduction of democracy a monument to the victims was built, but Videla was never repentant.

His time in power had a lasting impact with the children taken from their mothers only now being reunited with lost families.

Despite being jailed Videla always said the crackdown he oversaw was the price Argentina had to pay in order to remain a republic.

Journalist Who Exposed Pope Francis' Argentine Junta Ties: the Contentious Story of Abducted Priests

While praised for his work with the poor, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio -- now Pope Francis -- has long been dogged by accusations of his role during Argentina's military dictatorship. Horacio Verbitsky, a leading Argentine journalist, details the controversial story of Francis' connection to the abduction of two Jesuit priests. Verbitsky is an investigative journalist for the newspaper Pagina Dolce - or Page 12 and head of the Center for Legal and Social Studies, an Argentine human rights organization.

To read the complete transcript, visit
Democracy Now!, is an independent global news hour that airs weekdays on 1,100+ TV and radio stations Monday through Friday.

 

Argentina's sex slaves

Please, take a look at this sad and barbaric reality:

Peor es nada jugate con mingo

The best of the argentinian tv in the 90s: Peor es nada.
''Jugate con Mingo'': A very funny parody of the famous tv program ''jugate conmigo'' directed by Guinzburg acting as  ''Mingo'' Cavallo. (former minister of economy during the 90s.)

The ''mingo'' tv program is an irony related to the economical situation during the 90s and the social consequences created by the privatization politics promoted and leaded by ''Mingo''.

 There are no subtitles, sorry.

Vatican defends pope over Argentina 'dirty war' allegations

The Vatican has strongly denied accusations that Pope Francis stayed silent, during human rights abuses in his native Argentina. Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan reports from Rome.

 

 

Returning The Stolen

32 years after Argentina's military dictatorship, a heartbreaking legacy emerges. Hundreds are discovering that their 'parents' are impostors, responsible for the kidnap and murder of their real parents.

When thousands of political opponents disappeared in the 1970s, relatives were left distraught. "We only want to know where our children are!" - a woman cries in a crowded street rally where sobbing women hold up pictures of the disappeared. Around 5000 were taken to 'ESMA' - a secret prison where torture and murder were common crimes. Yet it' s only recently that the theft of children and babies of pregnant captives has come to light: "We never imagined this was a systematic plan, executed in a perverse manner", says Estella of the 'Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo'. They work to recover 'lost children' like Huan, who thinks the man who raised him beat him because "every time he looked at me he would revisit the horror of his crime". He now fights for DNA testing to become compulsory. The children of wealthy media magnate Ernestina Herrera de Noble, may not wish to take part in the inquiry, but "the justice system is obliged to solve the crime". And for the lucky ones who still have relatives alive, reunion after 32 years is the most powerful revelation of an unbreakable bond: "it was almost the most beautiful feeling I've ever had in my life".

'It's not about land, it's about people'' say Falkand Islander

Jan Cheek and Dick Sawle from the Falkland Islands legislative body explains to Foreign Affairs Correspondent Damien McElroy that the islanders just want to be involved in a "sensible dialogue" with the Argentinian government.

Inside Story Americas - What underlies the Falklands dispute?

Tensions between Britain and Argentina over the Falklands-Malvinas is at a new high 30 years after the war that killed 900 soldiers on both sides. What is the underlying factor? Guests: Larry Birns, Fernando Petrella, Wilder Alejandro Sanchez.

The old subway line ''A'' performing its last trip.

CFK: 'If you want to protest, that's fine'

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said she finds it "okay" to protest against the government, however, asked "everyone to help" to make Argentina the better country.

"If you like to protest, that's fine, but it would be good, if all of us can help," the President said shortly before the new protest against her administration, known as “18A”. President Fernández also requested to maintain "the proactive spirit that has been enabled" among all Argentines after floods in La Plata and the city of Buenos Aires.

You also can read this information here.

Football and violence:

A very interesting analysis made by Alejandro Dolina about this subject. I'm deeply sorry but it does not have subtitles in english.

 

Vatican denies Dirty War allegations against Pope

The Vatican has denied that Pope Francis failed to speak out against human rights abuses during military rule in his native Argentina.

"There has never been a credible, concrete accusation against him," said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, adding he had never been charged.

The spokesman blamed the accusations on "anti-clerical left-wing elements that are used to attack the Church".

Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, led Argentina's Jesuits under the junta.

Correspondents say that like other Latin American churchmen of the time, he had to contend, on the one hand, with a repressive right-wing regime and, on the other, a wing of his Church leaning towards political activism on the left.

One allegation concerns the abduction in 1976 of two Jesuits by Argentina's military government, suspicious of their work among slum-dwellers.

 As the priests' provincial superior at the time, Jorge Bergoglio was accused by some of having failed to shield them from arrest - a charge his office flatly denied.

Judges investigating the arrest and torture of the two men - who were freed after five months - questioned Cardinal Bergoglio as a witness in 2010.

The new Pope's official biographer, Sergio Rubin, argues that the Jesuit leader "took extraordinary, behind-the-scenes action to save them".

Another accusation levelled against him from the Dirty War era is that he failed to follow up a request to help find the baby of a woman kidnapped when five months' pregnant and killed in 1977. It is believed the baby was illegally adopted.

The cardinal testified in 2010 that he had not known about baby thefts until well after the junta fell - a claim relatives dispute.

 Turned in?

In his book The Silence, Argentine investigative journalist Horacio Verbitsky says the Jesuit leader withdrew his order's protection from Francisco Jalics and Orlando Yorio after the two priests refused to stop visiting slums.

The journalist is close to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who often clashed with Cardinal Bergoglio on social policy.

"He turned priests in during the dictatorship," Verbitsky was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. 

The man who is now Pope once talked about the two priests to his biographer.

"I warned them to be very careful," he told Rubin. "They were too exposed to the paranoia of the witch hunt. Because they stayed in the barrio, Yorio and Jalics were kidnapped.''

Both priests were held inside the feared Navy Mechanics School prison. Finally, drugged and blindfolded, they were left in a field by a helicopter.

Orlando Yorio, who reportedly accused Fr Bergoglio of effectively delivering them to the death squads by declining to publicly endorse their work, is now dead.

AP news agency quoted Francisco Jalics as saying on Friday: "It was only years later that we had the opportunity to talk with Fr Bergoglio... to discuss the events.

"Following that, we celebrated Mass publicly together and hugged solemnly. I am reconciled to the events and consider the matter to be closed."

Adolfo Perez Esquivel, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for defending human rights during the dictatorship, believes Fr Bergoglio "tried to... help where he could" under the junta.

"It's true that he didn't do what very few bishops did in terms of defending the human rights cause, but it's not right to accuse him of being an accomplice," he told Reuters.

"Bergoglio never turned anyone in, neither was he an accomplice of the dictatorship," Mr Esquivel said.

You can read this here.

Pope Francis’ Junta Past: Argentine Journalist on New Pontiff’s Ties to Abduction of Jesuit Priests

While praised for his work with the poor, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — now Pope Francis — has long been dogged by accusations of his role during Argentina’s military dictatorship. We speak to Horacio Verbitsky, a leading Argentine journalist who exposed Francis’ connection to the abduction of two Jesuit priests. Verbitsky is an investigative journalist for the newspaper Página/12, or Page/12, and head of the Center for Legal and Social Studies, an Argentine human rights organization. [includes rush transcript]

Transcript

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: For more on the new pope, we turn now to one of Argentina’s leading investigative journalists, Horacio Verbitsky, who has written extensively about the career of Cardinal Bergoglio and his actions during the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. During that time, up to 30,000 people were kidnapped and killed. A 2005 lawsuit accused Jorge Bergoglio of being connected to the 1976 kidnappings of two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jalics. The lawsuit was filed after the publication of Verbitsky’s book, The Silence: From Paul VI to Bergoglio: The Secret Relations Between the Church and the ESMA. ESMA refers to the former navy school that was turned into a detention center where people were tortured by the military dictatorship. The new pope has denied the charges. He twice invoked his right under Argentine law to refuse to appear in open court to testify about the allegations. When he eventually did testify in 2010, human rights activists characterized his answers as evasive.

AMY GOODMAN: Horacio Verbitsky joins us on the phone now from his home in Buenos Aires, an investigative journalist for the newspaper Página/12; Page/12, it’s called in English. He is also head of the Center for Legal and Social Studies, an Argentine human rights organization.

We welcome you to Democracy Now! I wanted to just begin by you laying out for us what you believe is important to understand about the new pope, Pope Francis.

HORACIO VERBITSKY: The main thing to understand about Francis I is that he’s a conservative populist, in the same style that John Paul II was. He’s a man of strong conservative positions in doctrine questions, but with a touch for popular taste. He preaches in rail stations, in the streets. He goes to the quarters, the poor quarters of the city to pray. He doesn’t wait the people going into the church; he goes for them. But his message is absolutely conservative. He was opposed to abortion, to the egalitarian matrimony law. He launched a crusade against the evil when Congress was passing this law, and in the very same style that John Paul II. This is what I consider the main feature on the new pope.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, now, Horacio Verbitsky, that would be true of many of the cardinals elevated during the period of John Paul and now also of Benedict XVI, this basic conservatism. But in the case of Bergoglio, there’s also the issue, as you have documented and many—and several other journalists in Argentina, of his particular role or accusations about his involvement in the dirty wars in Argentina. Could you talk about that and some of the things that—because you’ve been a leading investigative reporter uncovering the relations between the church and the government in terms of the dirty wars?

HORACIO VERBITSKY: Of course. He was accused by two Jesuit priests of having surrendered them to the military. They were a group of Jesuits that were under Bergoglio’s direction. He was the provincial superior of the order in Argentina, being very, very young. He was the younger provincial Jesuit in history; at 36 years, he was provincial. During a period of great political activity in the Jesuits’ company, he stimulated the social work of the Jesuits. But when the military coup overthrow the Isabel Perón government, he was in touch with the military that ousted this government and asked the Jesuits to stop their social work. And when they refused to do it, he stopped protecting them, and he let the military know that they were not more inside the protection of the Jesuits’ company, and they were kidnapped. And they accuse him for this deed. He denies this. He said to me that he tried to get them free, that he talked with the former dictator, Videla, and with former dictator Massera to have them freed.

New Pope Draws Excitement In Argentina

The naming of the first non-European Pope in a Millenium and the first from Latin America draws excitement from the region with the largest number of Catholics on the planet.