The virulent internal dynamics in the Government mutated, due to the joint diagnosis of the short-term economic problem and the need to move it forward, in a process of “orderly path” and reduction in the scale of bellicosity. In this scenario, the two unresolved issues of Minister Sergio Massa’s Economic Cabinet are installed, which are very relevant, for different reasons, but which the three legs of the Front of All seek to resolve with delicate care. The topics under discussion are the changes that are coming in the Ministry of Energy and the noise generated by the unofficial appointment of the conservative economist Gabriel Rubinstein as vice minister of Massawhich have already exploded on social networks with the reproduction of Twitter messages from the economist, very offensive against referents and policies of the National Government.
The Gabriel Rubinstein case
The issue of smaller scale of conflict is this last case, but it sparked controversy. Rubinstein was the last card in the range of possible candidates for the position that Massa had in his hands. Head of the consulting firm GRA (Gabriel Rubinstein y Asociados), he was the negotiator with the International Monetary Fund and representative in the Central Bank of Roberto Lavagna, in the years in which he held the ministry with Néstor Kirchner. He came out in 2005, with his political boss. In fact, the possible designation of him would come as a kind of agreement by Massa to surround himself with trusted and consulting officials, with terminals with lavagnismo.
But Rubinstein, with a more than conservative profile in economic terms, unleashed a storm on social networks and WhatsApp groups as a result of very harsh tweets criticizing the Government and Kirchnerism, with strong personal considerations, and praise for Macri’s economists. He also retweeted messages from the libertarian José Luis Espert asking for the liquidation of Aerolineas Argentinas, harshly criticizing President Alberto Fernández and highlighting, in his own message, that “joining Kirchnerism for me would be like saying: ‘I’m an idiot, but long live Néstor and Christina, damn. Also another that indicated that the Kirchner government was the most authoritarian after the dictatorship.
“The decision is in process, but it has not yet been decided who is going,” was the response from cadres close to Massa when asked why his confirmation was delayed. Rubinstein, in fact, had in recent days lowered almost his entire agenda of public events knowing of these negotiations. Massa had been confirming his appointments on Twitter, but this was particularly delayed. Rubinstein himself proceeded to delete the messages when he saw the viralization. A source from one of the three legs of the government alliance recalled the maxim that “political grievances expire after three months.” In any case, the official non-confirmation arouses logical suspicions regarding whether or not he will be the chosen one.
Rubinstein is, in truth, a concession from the rest of the Frente de Todos to Massa to put together his cabinet with open possibilities. And it was not the only option: among many surveys of economists not aligned with Peronism carried out by Massa, there was also the name of Marina Dal Poggeto, from the consulting firm Eco Go, today closer to the space of the radical Facundo Manes. A not minor difference is that of all those consulted, Rubinstein is the only one with highly offensive public behavior, beyond his economic thinking.
Open scenario in Energy
The most relevant issue for the Government and for Massa is to resolve what will happen to Energy. The political pact of the Frente de Todos enabled the new minister to change all the secretaries, for which the departure of Darío Martínez is almost a fact that awaits formalization. He didn’t quit, as was said, because he won’t quit before there’s a replacement.
According to what this newspaper learned, on Tuesday Massa will announce the new designation in the secretariat, along with the announcement of how the segmentation and removal of subsidies is left and what sectors will be reached. The decision is also delayed because it goes beyond names: official sources confided to Page 12 that what is being debated is the energy policy model that the government will have for a year and a half, after Massa’s entry into Economy.
Today’s photo is that Massa wants to control the area without going to the clash, Kirchnerism enables debates on the charges but less on the model and, with the considerations of the case, the Presidency wants it to be resolved as soon as possible. Naturally, time is pressing because the longer the change is delayed, the more the image of the new minister is affected.
On the axis is the removal of subsidies, which is closely tied to the objectives of lowering the deficit to which the Government committed itself with the IMF but which, at the same time, will have an impact on social perception beyond the fact that almost 8 of every 10 users continue to be assisted by the State.
The names in dance that sound strong to replace Martínez are not yet a definitive certainty. Until now, the number assigned seemed to be the current head of Enargas, Federico Bernal, who would have the endorsement of the Casa Rosada, but the agenda was opened with other options and it is not ruled out, as many who know the negotiation say, “that there be a secretary “. The climate of the election is also tense because the energy companies have started trying to carve into the designation, which litters the field.