Alberto Fernández has confirmed his tour of Europe: he will go with Martín Guzmán and visit Pope Francis

Despite the serious health situation in the world in general and Argentina in particular, Alberto Fernández considers that the trip he has included on his agenda to Europe is fundamental for his government’s plans for the future and decided to confirm the tour, which kicks off May 11 in Paris, France, and runs until at least May 14 in Rome, Italy.

Strictly speaking, the entourage, which will be composed of Martin guzman, Economy Minister, Felipe Solá, chancellor, Julio Vitobello, Secretary General of the Presidency and Juan Pablo Biondi, The presidential spokesman will leave Argentina on May 10. But the official activity will begin a day later, when they arrive on the old continent.

The novelty of Alberto Fernández’s trip is that will meet Pope Francis. As confirmed at Infobae at Casa Rosada, the conclave will take place on May 13, the first day of the Head of State in Rome. A lunch with the Italian president is also on the agenda, Sergio Mattarella, and an audience with the Prime Minister of that country, Mario Draghi.

The last public conversation between the president and the Sovereign Pontiff took place in August 2020 by video call before the government announced debt restructuring for more than $ 60 billion. It was no accident: eFrancisco’s role in helping Argentina with creditors was fundamental and now Alberto Fernández will seek new support from the head of the Vatican.

Upon his arrival in Paris on the 11th, the president will have lunch with Emmanuel Macron, President of France. With the French president, there was a recent communication. On February 5, Macron reiterated his support for the Argentine government in negotiations with the IMF: “We will continue to support you in the negotiations with the Fund, count on us, as happened last year, we are available”, he told him. From now on, the Argentine will seek to ratify this support.

The purpose of the tour is to deepen bilateral relations and, above all, to seek support in the negotiations that Argentina is conducting with the Paris Club and the International Monetary Fund. In the midst of busy days, There will be support for Martín Guzmán, who will attend all meetings and be ratified as head of negotiations in front of the world.

With this schedule, Alberto Fernández decided to shorten the journey, as an alternative to suspension. In the initial program, it was envisaged that the President would also visit Portugal and Spain.

The president and Martín Guzmán will arrive in Europe less than a month after the Minister of Economy embarked on a trip to the same destination in which he tried to reconcile the positions between Argentina and the countries of the old continent in the negotiations with the IMF and Paris. Club. In addition, the official had a private meeting with the Pope.

Argentina will face negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reach a new debt financing program of 45,000 million dollars contracted under the government of Mauricio Macri. With the Paris Club, for its part, in May expires the deadline for payment of a commitment of approximately $ 2,500 million.