BUENOS AIRES, Dec 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine president Alberto Fernandez revealed to media accredited at Government House, Casa Rosada, that in the coming days an IMF mission is scheduled to arrive in Buenos Aires to address economic issues.
“My main concern is to calm down the economy and Argentina”, Fernandez told reporters at the Casa Rosada during an end of the year toast.
He confirmed that in the next few days an IMF mission will arrive in Argentina to continue debt and payment negotiations, which he described as a major “condition” for the country.
Fernandez attended the event for almost an hour with his spokesperson, Juan Pablo Biondi, cabinet chief Santiago Cafiero, the Executive secretary Julio Vitobello and the deputy advisor Julián Leunda.
According to sources from the meeting, the president trusts he can solve the issue with the IMF before March 31. “We have been holding negotiation for quite some time and hopefully we can reach an accord by that date”, indicated the Government House sources.
As to the negotiations, where, when, how, they remain a top secret. So as far as the media is concerned it is not clear whether the target is a “shave” of capital or a deferral of the new maturities
Separately, in a surprising decision and probably for the first time in Argentina history, the two chambers of Congress agreed to freeze their salaries for the next 180 days, that is until the end of June.
The resolution was signed by the head of the Lower House, Sergio Massa and in the Senate by Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, vice-president and whip of the Upper House. The resolution is extensive to the “political staff” in the two houses but not the permanent personnel of Congress.
Massa in sponsoring the resolution argues that the decision is “essential for the austerity path of the public function, guided by solidarity ethics and promoting policies according to the reality”.
The resolution follows on the controversy generated by the Economic Emergency bill vote, which has meant a strong belt tightening for pensioners and child allowances, and was presented by members of the opposition.
In effect on Thursday Senators from the ruling grouping “Together for Change” presented a resolution freezing salaries and allowances of Senators and requesting a review of the way future increases are calculated.
Earlier in the week the head of the opposition in the Senate, Luis Naidenoff said it was necessary to discuss the “cost of politics” and that convincing message was needed.
The draft is supported with the signature of some nineteen members of the Senate while in the Lower House a similar initiative was presented.
The last increase dates back to September 2019 when members of congress agreed on a 10% rise in November, 10% in December and 10% in January. The January rise is automatically frozen according to resolution 0356/2019.
Currently Argentine congress members receive a monthly payment of 130.000 Pesos (equivalent now to some US$ 2.000), but they enjoy additional perks such as representation expenses, and for those living outside Buenos Aires air tickets and other transport allowances.
Abuse with the tickets led to another resolution barring the exchange of them for money, but which never was implemented. Apparently Cristina Fernandez is planning to make it come into effect in January. — NNN-MERCOPRESS
