Argentine officials clash over national highway maintenance

A heated exchange erupted on social media between Argentine officials over the state of national highways. The dispute began when the official "Oficina de Respuesta Oficial" account praised the rapid reconstruction of over 200 kilometers of Mercosur routes.

The post highlighted that work planned for the entire first year of the contract was completed ahead of schedule, without using state funds. It also announced that the remaining 540 kilometers of Stage I would be rehabilitated soon as part of a larger modernization of over 9,000 kilometers of national roads.

However, Buenos Aires Infrastructure Minister Gabriel Katopodis responded sharply on X, calling the claims "chanta" (fraudulent). He argued that patching and mowing 200 kilometers was insignificant compared to the 40,000 kilometers of national routes. Katopodis accused the government of failing to build a single new kilometer in nearly three years and paralyzing all projects, while allegedly misusing over 6 trillion pesos from fuel taxes and the former Impuesto PAIS for deficit "drawing."

Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno quickly retorted, sarcastically addressing the official who "left the roads in deplorable condition" while allegedly spending Argentine money on "putting roofs on municipal pool clubs in PBA, among other delusions."