Supported by Alberto Fernández in Europe, Martín Guzmán offers his “Portuguese plan”

Alberto Fernández closed this Sunday his first day of official visit to four European countries. He landed on an Aerolineas Argentinas afternoon flight from Lisbon accompanied by a limited delegation, in which stands out one of his most eminent ministers of recent days, Martín Guzmán. The figure of the Minister of the Economy is essential, because he seeks to crown the support of the various European powers in the negotiations with the IMF and the Paris Club.

His presence, moreover, is a way to show the president’s full support and to close ranks on Guzmán, targeted by Kirchnerism. “It is firm and the Basualdo file (Federico, under-secretary for Energy who answers to the vice-president), is finished”, they repeat in the entourage in reference to the head of the Economy.

Alberto Fernández with PROFILE in Lisbon: “We have come to ratify our agreements with Europe”

Fernández showed a different face on his first day in the Portuguese capital. Before meeting with President Marcelo Rebelo Sousa at the Palacio de Belem, had time to walk with Guzmán and two of his unconditional secretaries, Julio Vitobello and Juan Pablo Biondi. They visited downtown Lisbon and the imposing Plaza de Comercio, on the banks of the Tagus River.

“Everything is closed here too and no one is complaining,” they say to the president. Fact: Portugal, which was one of the epicenters of the pandemic a year ago, suffered only one death from the coronavirus this Sunday. The country is slowly starting to emerge from the nightmare. It is one of the few European countries that does not have time restrictions, but the ravages of the crisis can still be seen in its streets.

From the IMF, they try to support Guzmán: “He is our counterpart”

“We have come to ratify our agreements with Europe to support us in the development of Argentina,” Fernández told PROFILE after the meeting with his Portuguese counterpart. It was an official visit in which Guzmán and Foreign Minister Felipe Solá also participated. This Monday at noon local time, he will meet Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

Plan in “Portuguese”

The main point of the visit, which It continues Monday through Spain, then through France and ends in Italy and the Vatican, will be to specify the first level support to renegotiate the deadlines for this year with the IMF and the Paris Club. Guzmán already has the agreements of the Ministers of the Economy of these European countries in favor of the Argentinian position in the negotiation of the debt with the Fund. The Fernández administration intends to extend the September deadline by US $ 1.9 billion. And present your own plan “to the Portuguese”.

“Portugal resisted Lagarde’s IMF against the adjustment policies it was proposing. It presented its own plan based on growth, with a sharp increase in pensions and public wages which then fueled the economy, ”they show in the official delegation staying at the Eurostars Museum hotel, on the banks of the Tagus .

A new photo with Francisco and the public support of Europe

And the economic team maintains that Portugal had an unusual program with the Fund, something Argentina is seeking to replicate with a program based on economic recovery. Of course, Portugal had the support of the European Central Bank in its struggle with the IMF. Argentina urgently needs the votes to convince the board of directors of the organization.

In the presidential team, they are convinced that the four countries that include this tour will turn in Argentina’s favor. And also, they claim, they have the support of Germany. Next week Fernández will meet in virtual form with Angela Merkel.

The President begins a tour in search of support to negotiate with the Fund

The other bet of this visit will be on the Paris Club, which is why the support of France, Spain and Italy will be essential. In this case, the strategy is to suspend the May 30 deadline (for $ 2.3 billion), to close negotiations with the Fund and then to come to an agreement with the Paris Club. The negative shock that a default with this body would produce would be a blow in the midst of negotiations with the IMF.

Guzmán will continue this Monday May 10 with his own agenda. The Minister of the Economy will meet his Portuguese counterpart, Joao Leao. With the rest of the countries, including Germany, he has already held preparatory meetings with his colleagues.

Fernández’s appointment this Monday with Prime Minister Costa, whom he has already visited before becoming president, will crown the political affinity that unites them. There will be a joint declaration, an official lunch and a departure to the next destination, Spain, where King Felipe VI and the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, await you on Tuesday.

fa / ds