On August 12, 2026, the national government's Official Response Office fired back at Buenos Aires Province Minister Gabriel Katopodis, who had criticized the AySA water plan. The office called his claims 'false' and insisted the contract requires the winning bidder to execute the works. The political clash over water services intensifies.

The political dispute over the future of drinking water services in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) added a new chapter on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Gabriel Katopodis, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services of Buenos Aires Province, once again attacked the AySA plan, but this time received a forceful response from the national government.

At 9:38 PM, the Official Response Office (under the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers) published a message on its Twitter/X account categorically denying the provincial official's statements. 'THEY CRY FOR THE SAKE OF CRYING AND OPINIONATE ABOUT A CONTRACT THEY NEVER READ,' the tweet began, continuing: 'Once again Katopodis, main partner of Massa and Minister of Kicillof, came out to talk about the AySA plan as if it were an auction and a business. All FALSE.'

In the same message, the Official Response Office stressed that the contract obliges the winning bidder to execute the works, thus denying versions that spoke of a simple concession or speculative business. Although the tweet did not detail the full list of obligations, the reference to the execution of works is the central axis of the official defense.

What is AySA?

AySA (Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos S.A.) is the state-owned company that provides drinking water and sewage services in the City of Buenos Aires and 17 municipalities of the Greater Buenos Aires area. Its management is key to public health and urban development in the most populated region of the country.

Who is Katopodis?

Gabriel Katopodis is the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services of Buenos Aires Province, governed by Axel Kicillof. He is considered a strategic ally of Sergio Massa, former Minister of Economy and a leader of Peronism, and is often one of the most critical voices of the national government regarding public works.

The context of the clash

The fight over AySA is not new. In recent weeks, the national government launched a bidding plan for the expansion and improvement of the water and sewage network, including the participation of private capital. Katopodis had described this initiative as an 'auction' of the public service, while the national government assures it is a tool to accelerate works that the State alone cannot finance.

The response from the Official Response Office directly targets the provincial minister's alleged lack of reading of the contract. 'The contract obliges the winning bidder to execute the works,' they insist, in an attempt to defuse criticism and show that private participation does not imply a loss of state control.

This clash occurs in a context of high political tension between the national and provincial governments, with an eye on the next elections. Water management, an essential service, has become an electoral battleground, where every statement seeks to position leaders before public opinion.

So far, neither Katopodis nor the Buenos Aires government has issued a new response to Wednesday's tweet. The controversy, however, remains open and promises new chapters in the coming days.