Kirchnerist deputies withdraw from plenary, dissatisfied with LLA's economists: 'They seem to be from streaming, damn it'

Deputies from Argentina's Unión por la Patria (UxP) bloc staged a walkout from a committee hearing on Wednesday, expressing their strong disapproval of the economists presented by the ruling La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party. The hearing was convened to discuss proposed modifications to the Central Bank's organic charter. The UxP deputies justified their departure by stating the economists resembled participants on a streaming program, a pointed reference to the government's preferred communication channels.

Itai Hagman, a deputy from UxP, articulated the bloc's frustration, stating, "It seems like a streaming program, all that's missing is for 'Gordo Dan' to come explain the project." He added, "We are not going to listen to people we don't know, nor do we know in what capacity they are here to explain. They are just four friends of the government who hold no public office." This justification led to the bloc's exit from the lower house committee meeting.

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It seems like a streaming program, all that's missing is for 'Gordo Dan' to come explain the project.

The economists in question included Miguel Boggiano, Héctor Rubini, Ramiro Castiñeira, Aldo Abram, and Claudio Zuchovicki, all identified with the current government. The hearing, intended as a technical exposition, devolved into a dispute between the blocs, culminating in the Peronist legislators' walkout. The LLA bloc, however, managed to secure a committee vote on the Central Bank charter reform, with technical modifications, and plans to seek its preliminary approval on August 29.

The proposed reform aims to focus the Central Bank's operations on preserving the currency's value, prohibit financing the Treasury, and restrict unbacked currency issuance. It also seeks to impose stricter requirements for the removal of Central Bank authorities. The controversy highlights the deep political divisions in Argentina and the differing approaches to economic policy and institutional reform.

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We are not going to listen to people we don't know, nor do we know in what capacity they are here to explain. They are just four friends of the government who hold no public office.