CFK reignites infighting with healthcare-inflation jab

Vice-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner reignited infighting in the ruling coalition on Wednesday by criticising price increases authorised by her own government.

The former president referred to price increases in private healthcare plans that are regulated by the government, and said they were 20 percentage points above the annual rate of inflation.

“The new increase is frankly unacceptable,” Fernández de Kirchner tweeted, noting that the government had authorised it.

The comment widens the gap between vice-president and president and increases tensions within the ruling Peronist coalition. In September, Fernández de Kirchner said Economy Minister Sergio Massa should implement tighter price controls as extreme poverty rises and annual inflation approaches 100 percent. Massa has not yet done that.

The differences come at a time of growing speculation over who will be the government’s presidential candidate for next year’s elections.

Fernández de Kirchner’s son Máximo, who is also a deputy, said on Monday that he does not believe she will run for president, but the vice-president has yet to comment on the speculation.