Peronist unions and Macri: a year of criticism but no strikes
Government and cgt remain on negotiating terms Monday, August 22, 2016 Peronist unions and Macri: a year of criticism but no strikesPresident Mauricio Macri’s relationship with Peronist trade unions has had its ups and downs — but as president it’s been a much more quiet one than what a casual observer would expect, given their different ideological backgrounds. That protest did not include a walkout either, in contrast to industrial action that took place during the last year of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner administration. While Moyano, Caló and others have sometimes spoken critically of Macri and suggested that a general strike could be on the cards, such a move never actually took place so far. The continued flow of state funds to union-run healthcare schemes, instead, has been central in keeping Macri and the Peronist unions on the same page. Unionists also see a good relationship with Macri as important, some say in order to avoid the close scrutiny that potential corruption cases, involving some of their representatives, could bring.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 22, 2016 02:48 UTC
Life after Rio 2016
Tonight, the 17 days of the Rio Games conclude. In the months leading up to the Olympics, athletes are defined by their preparation and sacrifice. “Everything I did, I did with the idea of going to the Olympics and winning,” Boudia said before the Rio Games began. In his book “Greater Than Gold,” released as the Rio Games opened, he revealed that he contemplated suicide. “I’ve already had [Rio] Olympic athletes calling me and saying, ‘I need to come in and talk.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 21, 2016 03:54 UTC
Seven Days
Sunday, August 21, 2016 Seven DaysBy Michael Soltys / Senior EditorLAST WEEKEND. Energy Minister Juan José Aranguren is grilled in Congress over utility pricing. An Olympic gold in yachting for cancer survivor Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza. Attorney General Alejandra Gils Carbó broadly anticipates the next day’s Supreme Court ruling by stipulating prior public hearings. The Leones hockey team win Argentina’s third gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, beating Belgium 4-2.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 21, 2016 03:54 UTC
Another spanner in the works
In Argentina, economic rationality is widely regarded as political lunacy. Cristina and her cronies fear that unless it nosedives within a couple of months, they will end up behind bars. Over the years, Argentine jurists have proved to be good at throwing spanners into the economic works; there is no reason to suppose that they have lost their ability or desire to continue doing so. For a few months, many hoped that Argentina would, uncharacteristically, prove to be a bright spot. They clearly underestimated the power of the forces that are determined to stop or slow down change.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 21, 2016 02:37 UTC
Old-time demands are back
Sunday, August 21, 2016 Old-time demands are backBy Julio BurdmanObservatorio ElectoralInflation, crime are top main worriesAfter a first half of the year when corruption allegations against Kirchnerite leaders were a priority for the public opinion, something began to change. If we compare these figures with June, we can see how old-time demands gained ground in the concerns of society. In the 1980s, surveys made by pioneer pollsters like Edgardo Catterberg showed that democracy was also a major social concern, besides economic welfare. If the social concern about corruption is fading and thus normal demands rising, then the political agenda needs some sort of adjustment. The other says that a saturation of the public with the corruption issue lets the old-time demands back in.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 21, 2016 02:37 UTC
Exports: raw materials gaining ground
You can’t change the structure of the economy so easily.”When looking at each sector, primary products exports rose 9.6 percent between January and June. Shipments of processed meat dropped 4.8 percent while raw animal exports soared 46.2 percent. Shipments of cereals increased by 23.8 percent while exports of grain mill products dropped 13.5 percent. Unprocessed vegetables exports rose 58.5 percent, much higher than the 9.7 increase of the processed ones. Vehicle exports dropped 26 percent, followed by shoes (28 percent), leather goods (nine percent), paper and cardboard (21.9 percent) and base metals (27 percent), among others.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 21, 2016 00:21 UTC
Book sales tumble by 20% so far in 2016
Sunday, August 21, 2016 Book sales tumble by 20% so far in 2016Buenos Aires City has more bookstores per capita than any other major city in the world. “In January 2016 sales in bookstores declined up to 30 percent, then the situation improved a bit because of the sales for Father’s day. If there is no general predisposition for buying, it will also affect book sales,” he added. “If you compare book prices to any other prices you won’t see that they jumped dramatically,” said Barrella. Great expectationsAll experts agree that despite the current fall in general sales, sometimes the book industry also depends on the expectation of the readers regarding new releases.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 21, 2016 00:11 UTC
Britain dethrones the Netherlands
Olympics — Field hockey Saturday, August 20, 2016 Britain dethrones the NetherlandsRIO DE JANEIRO — Britain beat defending champion the Netherlands yesterday to take home its first Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey, winning 2-0 in a tense shootout following a hardfought 3-3 draw. After topping the podium in Beijing and London, the Netherlands were hot favourites going into the Rio Games. Britain also finished the group stages with a perfect record and was gunning for gold in its first Olympic final having won bronze four years ago in London. The Netherlands’ second goal promptly followed with Paumen scoring off the last of three penalty corners in the space of four minutes. Britain’s Helen Richardson-Walsh and Hollie Webb found the back of net to secure victory and their team’s first Olympic gold medals.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 20, 2016 03:48 UTC
Macri in Catch 22
But that is not the only cultural battle Macri is waging. The Macri administration is extremely concerned about being – or at least looking – different from its predecessor, the Kirchner era. Where the Kirchners sought to manipulate the media, Macri claims he barely reads newspapers and cares little about what they write about him. But it will only continue to do so if Macri can also be proactive – and successful – in establishing something similar to a governing plan of his own. Catch 22 may be around the corner.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 20, 2016 03:48 UTC
Gov’t pledge for zero duties on soybeans sees ‘delay’
Saturday, August 20, 2016 Gov’t pledge for zero duties on soybeans sees ‘delay’President Mauricio Macri pledged during the presidential campaign to continue lowering the soybean levy five percentage points every year until fully eliminating it. He pledged to continue lowering the levy five percentage points every year, until fully eliminating it in seven years. Argentina is going through a difficult situation,” Guillermo Bernaudo, Agriculture Ministry Cabinet Chief, said yesterday in a summit in Córdoba. “We probably won’t have news this year, probably in the next one after the soy harvest season,” he added. He said during the presidential campaign that soybean levy would be at 25 percent in 2017,” Buryaile said back then.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 20, 2016 03:11 UTC
Utility rates: businesses mull injunctions
Saturday, August 20, 2016 Utility rates: businesses mull injunctionsStung by their exclusion from a Supreme Court ruling that rolled back natural gas price increases for residential users only, heavy industry and business representatives yesterday urged the government to broker a solution for their sectors. On Thursday, the country’s top tribunal struck down the hikes in gas prices for residential users only — accounting for roughly a third of total consumption. As such, the Court excluded the businesses and industry that consume the majority of the country’s gas. While domestic users will enjoy the rates in effect on March 31 and may be reimbursed in the coming months, businesses will be expected to pay the increases capped at 500 percent. Urtubey added that the ruling issued unanimously by the four Supreme Court justices did “not resolve the rate problem” and that a comprehensive solution was needed.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
August 20, 2016 03:00 UTC
Goodbye, CBU! Central Bank Will Now Let You Pick Your Own Code
In a world in which we are constantly bombarded with information, remembering something longer than your home address can prove to be a challenge. That is why sometimes your CBU (Clave Bancaria Uniforme or, in English, Single Banking Code), which is like the local version of the IBAN, can be very annoying sometimes. The good news is that the Central Bank (BCRA) appears to have reached that same conclusion this week and announced that it will create a so-called “Alias CBU” instead by which bank users will be able to link their account numbers to a pseudonym of their choice. Goodbye 22-number account combinations, hello endless possibilities for weird names. You must have a funnier alias than your friends.
Source:The Bubble
August 19, 2016 20:03 UTC
Where’s My Primera Football Preview?!
That’s right, there will be no football this weekend. The reasons for this lack of on-pitch action will be the focus for this week’s Friday football – erm, non-preview. Not about how much their footwear costs, mind you, but about TV rights money. The Primera clubs have been convinced to stand in solidarity with their lower division counterparts (for the moment, at least) and that, in essence, is why there won’t be any football this weekend. This isn’t the Premier League, and the money involved, it goes without saying, is never going to be comparable.
Source:The Bubble
August 19, 2016 19:41 UTC
Former Vice President Amado Boudou To Face Oral Trial In ‘Ciccone’ Case
Federal Prosecutor Jorge Di Lello yesterday requested that former Vice President Amado Boudou face oral trial for allegedly using his influence as a public official to buy the Ciccone printing company (which had the technology to print currency and other government-issued documents) in order to award it State contracts. Boudou initially denied having anything to do with either the case or the company, and accused the media of mounting a smear campaign against him. Boudou will now have a final chance to defend himself before the criminal tribunal, which will issue a definitive sentence. However, even though the word definitive sounds definitive, this is still another step in the criminal case allowing Boudou to appeal the ruling. If he get a less severe sentence, he can request to go on probation and thus avoid doing time.
Source:The Bubble
August 19, 2016 18:45 UTC
A Farewell To Asados: Argentine Meat Prices To Go Up By 5 Percent
So much so, in fact, that alarmed nutritionists repeatedly warn the local populace to please eat more vegetables. In his newsletter Urcía explained that the price increase is a necessary measure after the 42 percent annual salary increase the government agreed upon in July. On top of this meat consumption in Argentina has declined over the last year and the export sector has as well. This was blamed mainly on food price increases of 32.6 percent over the last year, though it is likely that rising utility bills are no innocent bystanders in this. The report revealed that Argentines are reeling in their spending by 26 percent.
Source:The Bubble
August 19, 2016 16:41 UTC