Peronism has left speculation behind and moved into action. Following last week's summit at the Hotel Emperador in Buenos Aires—attended by Axel Kicillof, Sergio Massa, Máximo Kirchner, four governors and the Peronist bloc leaders—details of the agreement have begun to emerge: beyond defending the PASO (open, simultaneous and mandatory primaries), the group decided to reach out to the so-called “middle governors”, those Peronist leaders who maintain ties with Javier Milei's administration.
The 'Peer' Strategy
According to La Política Online, the plan is for Kicillof, Massa and Gerardo Zamora—the three current Peronist presidential hopefuls—to visit these governors accompanied by another leader who attended the summit. The goal: to have a witness guaranteeing the neutrality of conversations and to work on a “Peronist” framework rather than favoring any particular candidate.
The meeting lasted nearly four hours and also included complaints. Several attendees asked Kicillof, Massa and Máximo not to export Buenos Aires province's internal Peronist disputes to their provinces. A deputy from the interior was blunt: “They send us a provincial minister who meets with some mayors, and then La Cámpora or Sergio's people show up and chaos ensues.” The request was noted.
Context: Polls and PASO
The overall tone of the dinner was positive. Attendees were encouraged by the Senate victory against the land foreignization law and by polls suggesting Milei could face a runoff. According to Luis Majul's column in La Nación, both the government and the opposition have already started campaigning—and so have political operations. Karina Milei called Mauricio Macri to explore a programmatic agreement between La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and the PRO party, with Diego Santilli as witness. Macri reportedly said: “I hope this first contact isn't more of the same, but rather the possibility of a new beginning.”
Within Peronism, differences persist. Kicillof wants to be president but refuses to request Cristina Kirchner's release or pardon. Massa, meanwhile, is gradually positioning himself as a candidate for governor of Buenos Aires province while playing the role of unifier. The Hotel Emperador summit was seen as a preliminary agreement to sustain the PASO, though each leader's interests remain far apart.
Caloventores, Polenta and Other Political Week Details
Meanwhile, at the Casa Rosada, the LLA-PRO negotiation had its folkloric side. Polenta was served in the dining room, and outside, the “Mago sin Dientes” (Toothless Magician) awaited. The space heaters promised by Ignacio Torres for the press room arrived, but had to be brought in one by one due to political sensitivities. Vice President Victoria Villarruel appeared relaxed at the hairdresser amid her internal dispute with Milei. Deputy Lilia Lemoine dressed up as ALF at the Retro Start fair, a nod to her cosplayer origins.
On the economic front, country risk remains high and delinquency is a concern. According to a report by consultancy 1816, total non-financial private sector arrears fell from 7.7% to 7.6%, and household arrears from 12.8% to 12.7%. A change in trend that the government celebrates, though without overdoing it.
What's Next
The next Peronist move will be August 19, when Kicillof travels to Chaco for a CGT Regional event and the presentation of his book at the UNNE university. Meanwhile, the electoral map is becoming clearer, and the fight over PASO remains the central axis of the dispute.
Sources: La Política Online, La Nación, consultancy 1816.