After the withdrawal of the candidacy of Mauricio Macrione of the first activities of Patricia Bullrichpre-candidate for president of Juntos por el Cambio, went to visit the businessmen of the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA). Sources that participated in the meeting affirmed that the meeting was in a “very pleasant” tone, although the industrialists made a request for “self-criticism” due to the policies applied during the Cambiemos government and the “anti-industry” speeches of some leaders. They agreed on the “need” to make labor changes and economic opening, but “gradual”.
Although the meeting took place hours after Macri’s decline, sources from the meeting assured that it had already been agreed upon months ago. Internally, there was discomfort from some businessmen for the visit. Remember when the former Minister of Production, Francisco Cabrera, called them “crybabies” in 2018, or when in 2021, during the pandemic, Bullrich criticized the closure of companies and assured: “SMEs close like dominoes. What does the UIA do? They are like a bureaucracy that does nothing. We have to start removing those bureaucracies that all they do is defend themselves.”
Although from the UIA they asked if there was any “self-criticism” for the economic and industrial performance during the Cambiemos government and for some public speeches with “anti-industry tones”, sources present assured that the meeting took place in “very pleasant” terms and with “constructive ideas”. Among the businessmen, they see the economic team that accompanied Bullrich to the meeting as “robust”: the deputy Luciano Laspina and the former Minister of Production and Labor, dante sica. Former Senator Federico Pinedo also participated.
In Bullrich’s team they affirmed that “the idea is to look forward, admit where the difficulties were, and make more sectoral policies, but with a focus on improving productivity and support in the weakest chains.” On the business side, the head of UIA, Daniel Funes de Riojathe secretary, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, and most of the vice presidents, such as Luis Betnaza (Techint) and Adrián Kaufmann (Arcor).
bridges
In the meeting there were coincidences in a thorny point: the economic opening. Bullrich stated that he wants a “competitive industry integrated into the world”, for which he will seek to advance bilateral agreements with Brazil and the European Union. He affirmed that there are no “good or bad sectors”, but “uncompetitive companies”. From the UIA they are in favor, but they assure that to play that game deadlines are needed, and “level the field, with equal conditions” and make the opening “more gradual”.
For this reason, Bullrich was in favor of the state “do its homework” and promised to advance in macroeconomic policies, with a stabilization plan that lowers inflation and eliminates the fiscal deficit, and also by sectors, with an improvement in competitiveness, in matters of logistics, infrastructure and taxation, with tax modifications. He clarified that deadlines should be established for the less competitive sectors and for SMEs. In fact, Bullrich’s team recalled that the agreement with the European Union had deadlines even for sectors such as textiles, which had been established in a joint effort between businessmen from Mercosur and Europe.
In addition, Bullrich stated that reforms are needed and that for that he will need “build bridges” with different sectors, such as the business community, to achieve “accompaniment”. This is the case, for example, of changes in labor legislation, where there were agreements. In the UIA they remember that “Patricia was Minister of Labor” during the government of Fernando de la Rúa, so she “knows that there is a need to generate certainty”. The industrialists raised criticisms of the fines that can multiply by seven the indemnities and labor lawsuits.
From the UIA they assure that they are going to meet with all the candidates of all the political spaces to present the proposals that you have in the White Paper, including Javier Milei. As pre-candidates for president, they started with Bullrich this past Monday at noon, because she is also the president of the PRO party. They assure that they maintain a “permanent dialogue” with other “possible candidates”, and they mentioned Alberto Fernández, Sergio Massa, Daniel Scioli, Wado de Pedro, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and Gerardo Morales.
Source: Ambito
