Letter from Buenos Aires - no 4.

Liam Payne’s untimely death caused ripples of sadness around the world, but particularly in Buenos Aires, the city of his demise. Local investigators have suggested that VIP drug dealers for the rich and famous may be inculpated. Autopsy findings are yet to be released.

Former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has escaped many coffins. Her latest achievement is that she remains the sole candidate to be put forward to chair the Peronist party. Governor Ricardo Quintela (who we mentioned last week) failed to obtain sufficient endorsements when party leaders conspired against him. This week Javier Milei has said that he would like to be the one “to put the last nail in the coffin of Kirchnerism with Cristina inside.” It seems that her nomination is going to provide yet another escape route for this most controversial but resilient leader.

Last week we mentioned the ongoing conflict between Javier Milei and his Vice President Victoria Villarruel. This week the storm has reignited after she posted pictures of herself with the 1970s former President María Estela Martínez de Perón (overthrown by the military on 24 March 1976). Memories of the “Rodrigazo” economic crisis under Evita Perón may have faded, but Martinez’ association with the right wing paramilitary Alianza Anticomunista Argentina is very much part of Argentine modern folklore. Milei said, “I would not have done it. For me, the case of Mrs. María Estela Martínez de Perón does not enhance women. Quite the contrary. I don’t believe that she reached her place because of her intellectual and professional merits.” Xiomara (arguably the most intellectual and professional woman I know) observed that it would be hard to disagree with Milei on this topic. Her words - “Why would she do that?”

On Thursday, Toto, Economy Minister Luis Toto Caputo met with International Monetary Fund MD, Kristalina Georgieva in Washington DC. We are yet to decipher Kristalina’s statement “we have an objective, which is to think together, as a single team, what is best for Argentina”. Any ideas where this may be going?

And finally, Defence Minister Diana Mondino, has threatened to sack anyone who refers to the Malvinas as ‘the Falkland Isles’. You have been warned!