The Government went out in search of the “SME vote”. He did it this Wednesday on the day of the national businessman, during a meeting held by the General Economic Confederation (CGE), which brought together more than 600 small and medium businesses. During the speeches, the officials of the Executive Branch polarized with the ideas of javier milei and they were optimistic of being able to reach a second round with the candidate for president of La Libertad Avanza.
The meeting was held at the headquarters of Banco Nación, in front of the Plaza de Mayo. The chief of staff and candidate for vice president of UP, Augustine Rossi; the Minister of Labor, Raquel “Kelly” Olmos; the Secretary of Industry, Jose Ignacio de Mendiguren; and the president of Banco Nación, Silvina Batakis. They were summoned by the president of the Cgera, Marcelo Fernández.
During his speech on stage, Rossi assured that UP is competitive: “If they told us when we presented the list that we were going to leave in a parity scenario, we would have signed earlier. The choice leaves us in an absolutely competitive position. I am convinced that the only political space that is guaranteed a place in the ballotage”.
The polarization was in the case of all the speeches with Milei. “When I heard Milei saying that he was prepared to govern because we were going to leave the government early, shit we’re going to go”Rossi stated. In addition, he added: “It is a destabilizing, coup-mongering message, which is what identifies this ultra-right. It is not any right. He hangs out with Bolsonaro, Vox and the Chilean extreme right”.
Also, the chief of staff rated it as a “danger to democracy”. Before a packed auditorium, he stated: “Make a big call to all those who think that Argentine democracy is the place to live.”
In a new day of instability in the exchange market, Rossi also referred to the economic situation. He assured that one of the reasons for the crisis had to do with the drought, but, in addition, linked Monday’s devaluation to the IMF: “The Fund has been pressing for 100 days for what we did on Monday, and they even asked for a much higher exchange rate.”
For his part, Batakis referred to Banco Nación’s loans to SMEs: “We are obsessed with industrializing, with science and technology. That is why we had subsidized interest rates so that you can continue to grow”. Along the same lines, De Mendiguren mentioned that the interest rate on some credit lines is 52 points below inflation. Also in an optimistic message, the member of Massa’s small table launched: “I can assure you that we will turn it around.”
In turn, the businessman Marcelo Fernández assured that the Cgera will support UP. “They remember what they told Cristina, that the kids are here for liberation. I want to tell politics here are the SMEs for the recovery”. The industrialist organized the meeting within the framework of the 70th anniversary of the creation of the General Economic Confederation (CGE), and the Day of the National Entrepreneur (Law 27,108).
Outside the event, in the halls of Banco Nación the climate among SMEs was one of uncertainty, as Ámbito could verify. These days, they affirmed that “there is no price”, because lists arrive with increases well above the devaluation. In addition, there is concern because the payment dates that were defined by the SIRA import system have not been met for a week.
In dialogue with this newspaper, Fernández explained why despite the situation he will support Peronism: “They gave us the ATP, subsidized lines, they controlled foreign trade. Today the dollar is the great concern, we understand the SMEs angry about the vicissitudes of the inflation”. Another industrialist affirmed: “We do not support this disaster, but rather pro-internal market policies, we hope that this situation will pass soon, because today it is difficult to produce and sell.”
Among officials, although there is optimism about being able to enter a second round, there is maximum concern about the lack of stabilization of the dollar. They anticipate that the economic situation will be “worse” than in the primaries and anxiously await the next disbursement from the IMF.
Source: Ambito
