The president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, promoted this Monday (10th) a new mini-ministerial reform, at a time when the government remains at risk and with low popularity.
The exchanges promoted three women to the cabinet: Victoria Tolosa Paz, who will occupy the Ministry of Social Development; Raquel “Kelly” Olmos, for Work; and Ayelén Mazzina, in the Women, Gender and Diversity portfolio.
Although they are not key posts in the administration, the first two are responsible for areas in which the tensions of sectors of the population in relation to Fernández are growing. Labor has faced criticism from unionism, which is increasingly active in protests against the president. And acts calling for more social benefits are taking place almost daily.
For months now, the president has faced a multi-layered crisis. The end of the year is approaching with the possibility of an annual inflation of around 100% and the internal dispute in the government alliance remains intense, with no sign of truce.
The coalition is divided between the Kirchnerist wing, linked to Vice President Cristina Kirchner, which has more volume and power, and the so-called “Albertism”, with the few and faithful supporters of Fernández. The president has 13% popularity and has been overshadowed by the “super minister” of the economy, Sergio Massa.
Indicated by Cristina, the politician took over the portfolio at the beginning of August in an attempt to calm the markets and save the management on the eve of the beginning of the electoral campaign. The presidential election in Argentina takes place in 2023.
Of Fernández’s new assistants, however, at least one of them will already take over under suspicion. The appointment of deputy Tolosa Paz to the Ministry of Social Development did not please the protesters who have been present in front of the ministry’s building for weeks. They are calling for the restructuring of social assistance plans so that they keep up with inflation figures.
The budget for social spending, however, depends on Massa, who has not yet defined a new budget for the area. Last week, workers organized camps on Avenida 9 de Julio to reinforce this demand.
Tolosa Paz takes over from Juan Zabaleta, a Peronist leader who left the government to take care of his election campaign in Hurlingham, Greater Buenos Aires.
At Work, economist Olmos had been a parliamentarian for the city of Buenos Aires and occupied the national secretariat for Municipal Affairs (2007-2009). In the Ministry of Women, political scientist Ayelén Mazzina was already working in the ministry, but on a regional basis, serving the province of San Luis; she now she’ll do it nationally.
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