CÓRDOBA.– President Alberto Fernandez increased the frequency of his visits to the provinces: faces acts with governors and makes announcements or inaugurates works. Also the Peronist presidents – who were somewhat strengthened following pushing the decision to add to Serge Massa to the Cabinet – foresee that these tours will be prolonged, since it is a way of guaranteeing national funds. It serves the leaders on that side and For Fernández, it is a way of not leaving the entire stage free to his Minister of Economy.
At the time of the adjustment announced by Massa, the governors are discounting that the remittances that arrive outside of the co-participation will continue to fall (in the first semester the year-on-year drop was 2.9%). On the side of the energy subsidieswould be on track scheme of “hot and cold” zones that they demanded and, as Fernández insists, the public work will continue.
Outside they have the transport subsidies, where the fight looks tougher. Added to the periodic complaints from the interior are now those of the businessmen of the AMBA bus lines who, although they receive more money, They cut services due to delays in transfers.
So far, from the ministry of Alexis Guerrera there are no answers or more funds. That point also opens a gap between Axel Kicillof, the most benefited by the Nation’s funds, and his colleagues.
Why are the same presidents who until a few weeks ago avoided photos with Fernández now interested in him visiting their territories? Because they know from experience that they can get some “extras”, such as accelerating works in progress or a new item for housing. “It always happens, this is not with Alberto. It is with all the presidents when they visit a province”, emphasizes a minister from the north.
If the announced adjustment is fulfilled, the expectation of the presidents is to “save themselves” as much as they can. Although its finances are better than those of the Nation –and even inflation helps the most orderly because it liquefies expenses– they act defensively.
Provincial referents of Peronist districts consulted by THE NATION they trust that Fernandez will keep some games unadjusted, because “he also needs to do politics; try to improve your image.
Two officials from the interior with whom he was in acts in recent days slipped that the President believes that he can “recover” his management. “Beyond the fact that Massa is very active –one said ironically–, Fernández will try to play his game. Although for some the interior is the ‘periphery’, a large part of the votes of Peronism gather in the north”.
In the first cabinet meeting in which Massa participated, he told his colleagues that they cannot request funds while they have money immobilized in Fixed deadlines. In the case of provincesaccording to data from Central Bank analyzed by Politikon Chacoin May they had $269,322 million in that investment alternative, a figure that is the equivalent of 52.3% of the coparticipation corresponding to that month. In the year-on-year comparison, Loans from all districts grew 141.8% in nominal terms.
An X-ray of the provincial fixed terms to May shows that the jurisdictions in which these placements increased the most in a year are Formosa, 2090% ($6,134 million); Salta, 1877% ($9,117 million); Santa Cruz, 1,508% ($7,433 million); Buenos Aires, 604% ($121,873 million), Land of Fire587% ($1,023 million) and CABA, 332% ($21,886 million). In all the rest, except Entre Ríos, with 104%, the increase was less than 100%.
Regarding the percentage of the co-participation of May, the highest levels of fixed terms occur in CABA (191.2%; it should be clarified that it receives fewer transfers due to the cut that ended up in the Supreme Court of Justice); The Pampa (189,2%); Santiago del Estero (147,5%); Buenos Aires (105,2%); Santa Cruz with 95.8% and Missions with 75.7%. In the rest, in general, it is well below 50%.
