READERS WRITE
THE ‘DÓLAR FUTURO’ TRIAL
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner made an appearance at court for her online trial in the so-called “dólar futuro” case recently. My purpose here is not to analyse the case itself but to reflect on the way she, as a defendant, behaved. Her long, vehement statement reminded me of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland where the Mad Hatter poses a riddle to confuse Alice. Likewise, I think Cristina’s participation via Zoom is a visual riddle for us to interpret. At the trial she is seen in a position of command sitting at her own desk, instead of in the dock, with the Argentine flag displayed behind her. What message is being sent by this impressive mise-en-scène? Obviously that she is not every Tom, Dick and Harry but a key figure in the national administration and not a person to mess with. There is another resemblance worth mentioning: in the story by Lewis Carroll, time stays fixed at six o’clock after the March hare’s watch is broken and they live in a perpetual tea-time world. The same holds true about Cristina, who rests on her laurels, endlessly dwelling on what she regards the accomplishments of her past administration while we know she has done nothing to address Argentina’s current social and economic problems. Last but not least, the mad Hatter and the March Hare are a pair of hard-faced liars and Cristina is not truthful either. At the trial she claimed that Macri’s misuse of the IMF loan had a terrible effect on the pension system. However, what she forgot to say is that, out of sheer populist demagoguery, when she was president, she created thousands of new pensioners by violating the principle of requiring them to qualify for a retirement salary by means of “aportes jubilatorios,” or monthly payments that workers make into state-run pension funds. It is no wonder then that, because of her negligence, the state is unable to pay decent pensions leaving the third age unprovided for.
Adrian Insaubralde, Santa Fe
BATTLE OF THE BULGE: PART 134
Dear Sirs,
There is one word the Peronistas hate and, even more so, their virulent offspring, the Kirchneristas, and that is the term ‘adjustment.’ Even worse, austerity. Can’t bear it! Living within income? Horrible!!!
Poor old Martin Guzmán, endeavouring to balance the books, in an election year. However, it must be admitted that the local economy is slowly expanding again and the prices for our exports are on the up. But so is country risk. Should be a close run thing, from here to next October. Inflation was only 3.6 percent, last month. Short month; breathe again!!!
President Albert is currently looking for a new minister of Justice. His trenchant speech on the subject before Congress on March 1 ultimo did for his bosom pal and business partner Marcela Losardo, who was adjudged “overwhelmed.” The veep was amused, and no doubt is observing developments closely. Big game of judicial chess going on in Buenos Aires at present. Lawfare? Not fair! Vaccinations, anyone?
David Parsons, via email
IF A SPARK FLIES
Regarding the incidents in Formosa, many of my acquaintances consider that, in a province where over 70 percent of the workforce is government-employed, nothing will change and that at voting time Governor Insfrán will be re-elected over and over again. I tend to disagree.
Observing on television the people out on the streets demonstrating, I was struck at the sight of so many millenials and of women of all ages, much more than men. There and then I realised that – with an economy so absent in private enterprise – the youngsters have terribly poor professional prospects, so their frustration must be enormous. Add to this the fact that they live enclosed in nothing less than a tyrannic environment, but on the other hand through their phones have access to ample social media, and you come to the conclusion that the local tyrant won’t have it easy from here onwards.
Also, once more in these times all around the world, women are showing more guts opposite injustice than men, and won’t shut up. The chamber is full of gas in Formosa, as well as in other provinces run along feudal lines. So if a spark happens to fly, we may well not have an Arab Spring but eventually an Argentine Autumn! Because “it’s the Republic, darn it”!
Harry Ingham, City
NO FLOWERS, THANKS
Please, men, don’t wish us, women, a “Happy International Women’s Day.” Actually, there’s nothing to celebrate, nothing to be happy about. Particularly in Argentina, my country, where there’s one femicide a day. We’ve been victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse for centuries. We’ve always earned less than men, still coping with a historical gender wage gap. Gender inequality is blatantly obvious. We suffer from discrimination based on appearance: looks, weight, race, disability, even age. Not to speak of such aberrations elsewhere as Female Genital Mutilation or “child marriage,” unbelievable practices that still survive in this century.
That’s why I insist: please, men, don’t give us flowers, or chocolates or pretty cards, nor a condescending pat on the back. We demand equal opportunities, a gender balance in political institutions. We want respect, support, empathy, credibility. We’re not second-class citizens. By now, we’ve proved to be as efficient and even more multitasking than men in all areas. It’s high time, don’t you think?
Irene Bianchi, Ringuelet, La Plata