Aníbal Fernández reappears, criticizes Máximo Kirchner over party authority

Aníbal Fernández, a veteran Peronist figure, has re-entered the political fray in Buenos Aires province with sharp criticism aimed at Máximo Kirchner, the son of former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. During a visit to the provincial government, Fernández directly challenged Kirchner's authority within the party.

"The pen belongs to Cristina, her son is the one who mismanages," Fernández declared, asserting that Kirchner wrongly believes he holds the ultimate decision-making power. "They think they have the pen, when in reality it doesn't belong to them," he added, emphasizing that the authority rests with Cristina Kirchner and that her associates were placed by her.

Fernández also weighed in on the upcoming presidential elections, identifying Governor Axel Kicillof as the most promising candidate. While acknowledging Sergio Massa's potential ambitions and Cristina Kirchner's right to an opinion, he firmly stated, "I see the governor in the best condition as a candidate."

Regarding the former president's conviction, Fernández maintained her innocence but distanced himself from overt displays of support. "You will never see me as a fool with a 'Cristina Libre' sign," he stated, signaling a desire to avoid being perceived as blindly loyal.

The internal political dynamics within Unión por la Patria are heating up, with Kicillof and Máximo Kirchner potentially facing off in internal elections. The party is seeking ways to reconcile differing factions, with the governor of La Rioja, Ricardo Quintela, inviting both Kirchner and Kicillof to his province to bridge divides.