The proposal of Axel Kicillof for the province of Buenos Aires to acquire the share package of Argentine Airlines (AA) He reaps the support of his peers from Unión por la Patria (UP) by drip. To the instant support of the Riojan Ricardo Quintela and to the wink of the pampas Sergio Ziliotto the Fuegian joined Gustavo Melellawho emphasized his position in favor of the Buenos Aires initiative.
Kicillof surprised public opinion last week when, at a press conference, he expressed his intention to take control of the state company in the face of the threat of privatization by the libertarian administration.
“The national government says that no one wants Aerolíneas Argentinas: it is a lie, the province of Buenos Aires does want it and, in the event that they finally decide to transfer it, it expresses its vocation to begin the path of dialogue with the workers and governors of other provinces and to take all the institutional steps that are necessary to sustain it,” launched the Buenos Aires president.
Support of UP governors for Axel Kicillof
In his statements, the UP leader put other governors who are interested in the proposal on the bandwagon. However, in the hours that followed, the majority of the leaders did not show enthusiasm for the move of Cristina Kirchner’s former Minister of Economy.
On the contrary, Ricardo Quintelafrom La Rioja, came to his defense. “We celebrate Comrade Kicillof’s proposal to transfer responsibility for our flag airline to ensure that it continues to be a strategic tool at the service of all Argentines,” the Riojan enthused on social networks.
As the days went by, other players in the celestial league echoed the move. This week he gave the note Gustavo Melellafrom Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands, who received representatives of the aeronautical unions in the province. The Aeronautics Association, the Aeronautical Personnel Association (APA) and the Air Line Pilots Association (APLA) participated in the meeting.
Melella emphasized the importance of Aerolíneas Argentinas for the Island and recalled the “fundamental role it played in critical moments, such as the pandemic.” “Tierra del Fuego, being the only island province, was not isolated thanks to their work. We receive medicines, medical equipment, supplies and treatments. It is, many times, our only quick connection with the rest of the country,” the provincial chief reflected.
On the other hand, he called the privatization to which the firm was subjected in the past a “bad experience” and criticized the closure of the company’s offices in Ushuaia, dated December 20, arguing that the city has a great tourist movement, both national and international, and that “closing the agency is not a good message for tourism.”
After the meeting, Horacio Calculisecretary of Health and Occupational Safety of the Argentine Transport Confederation and representative of the cabin crew of Aerolíneas Argentinas, thanked the President for his support and assured that “He expressed his support for Governor Axel Kicillof’s project on the possibility of the provinces participating in the destinations of our flag airline.”
Although Melella shows harmony with the most belligerent bloc in the celestial league, its support for the state company also responds to the province’s own dynamics. Although other airlines provide service in Ushuaia, the same does not occur in Río Grande, the most populated city on the island and its industrial heart, which depends almost exclusively on AA for its connectivity.
Another of the chiefs who sent a wink to his Buenos Aires counterpart was the Pampean Sergio Ziliotto. “If it is necessary to work together, we will do so. So far what we know is only from the media,” Ziliotto had timidly stated last week, in dialogue with Letra P.
Orbiting that triad, the hermetic Gildo Insfran (Formosa) did not express a position on the matter, although months ago he had met representatives of the aeronautical unions expressing his support. The man from Santiago Gerardo ZamoraMeanwhile, he did not establish a position either and flies under the radar. The rebels made the same decision. Osvaldo Jaldo (Tucumán) and Raul Jalil (Catamarca), in good harmony with the Casa Rosada.
Rejection of the Government and its allies
But if the Buenos Aires initiative had the objective of breaking the walls of UP and gaining transversal support, that would not be happening. At least publicly, the governors prefer to detach themselves. “We are not here to get involved with that, these are issues of Peronism, it would not be wise to get involved,” they pointed out from the orbit of a radical leader. “For now the issue is not on the agenda,” They joined in a province of wayward Justicialism. At the same time, in districts governed by local forces they ignored the issue.
In Nación they have already kicked the ball out and ruled out the possibility of negotiating the future of Aerolíneas Argentinas with PBA. As soon as the Buenos Aires initiative was known, the Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos, had called it “ridiculous and meaningless.” “A province that has a deficit and is in debt, is it going to take on a company that has a deficit, is in debt and demands funds from the State? Where do you want to take the debt of the provincial State?” the official told Radio Rivadavia.
Kicillof has already empowered his Government Minister, Carlos Bianco, to start a dialogue table with the libertarian management and try to unblock the conflict, with the aim of avoiding the privatization of AA.
Source: Ambito
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