A Political Mirror: Reunions and Strategies
As if an imaginary starting gun had sounded, Argentine politics sprang back to life in less than 48 hours with moves that will shape the road to the 2027 general elections. On one side, Peronism managed to bring its main leaders to the same table after months of tension. On the other, the ruling party and the PRO (Republican Proposal) resumed negotiations to consolidate an electoral alliance.
On Tuesday, August 11, at the Hotel Emperador on Avenida del Libertador in Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof (Governor of Buenos Aires Province), Sergio Massa (former Economy Minister), Máximo Kirchner (leader of La Cámpora), and other Peronist leaders gathered. The summit, lasting almost four hours, came after three previously failed attempts and marked a turning point: everyone agreed to talk, though internal wounds remain open.
Almost in parallel, Karina Milei (Secretary General of the Presidency) called Mauricio Macri (former President and PRO founder) to propose a joint working group between La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and PRO. The contact materialized in a meeting at the Casa Rosada on Thursday, with the presence of Martín Menem, Eduardo Lule Menem, Diego Santilli, Cristian Ritondo, and Fernando de Andreis.
"We have moved from disruption to the search for results. We must strengthen ourselves to sustain the political project," sources close to the President and his sister acknowledge.
The Peronist Summit: Unity with Cracks
The Hotel Emperador meeting was a success in terms of attendance, but it did not resolve deep-seated differences. According to sources present, greetings were cordial, but there was no talk of reconciliation. Kicillof and Máximo had not seen each other since October 2025, when they shared the stage of the legislative electoral defeat.
The central operator of the summit was Sergio Massa, whom some compare to "a bankruptcy trustee" for his ability to talk to all sectors. The former minister arrived strengthened after his role in the fall of the land foreignization chapter of the Law of Inviolability of Private Property.
The summit's agenda included defending the PASO (Open, Simultaneous, and Mandatory Primaries), the 2027 Budget, transfers to the provinces, and the fuel tax. Leaders agreed on a work plan with role distribution, though without a precise date for a new meeting. The table is expected to reconvene in two weeks, with broader territorial representation.
Role Distribution: Who Negotiates with Whom
One of the most interesting points of the summit was the assignment of tasks to negotiate with dissident governors:
- Ricardo Quintela (La Rioja) will be in charge of approaching Osvaldo Jaldo (Tucumán), Raúl Jalil (Catamarca), and Gustavo Sáenz (Salta).
- Sergio Massa and Sergio Ziliotto (La Pampa) will work with Alberto Weretilneck (Río Negro) and Rolando Figueroa (Neuquén).
- Máximo Kirchner will handle Santa Cruz.
- Gerardo Zamora (Santiago del Estero) will seek to bring closer Hugo Passalacqua (Misiones).
The strategy is clear: first try dialogue, and if unsuccessful, threaten to field own candidates to complicate the local elections of governors who align with LLA.
PRO and LLA: A Pragmatic Alliance
On the ruling side, the goal is clear: "preserve political capital" and send signals of governability before the electoral climate distorts all movements. The conversation between Karina Milei and Macri opened a stage of dialogue that could crystallize into an agreement for the 2027 elections.
However, there is distrust within Macrism. "They've already done this to us a thousand times. Then they screw us," PRO members say. Therefore, Hernán Lacunza (former Economy Minister under Macri) maintains his presidential pre-candidacy as an alternative, while options that could complicate Milei emerge, such as businessman Daniel Hadad or banker Jorge Brito.
The most sensitive negotiation is over the City of Buenos Aires, where Mauricio Macri and Jorge Macri compete for leadership of PRO in the capital. At the Casa Rosada, they assure that the dialogue is not in exchange for giving up the city, and mention Patricia Bullrich (Security Minister) and Pilar Ramírez as possible libertarian candidates.
The PASO Debate: The Mother of All Battles
The elimination of the PASO primaries has become the axis of political dispute. The ruling party wants to eliminate them to avoid an internal contest that would expose internal divisions and reduce governability. Peronism, in contrast, defends them as a tool to legitimize candidacies.
Massa had said it was convenient to eliminate them, but has now changed his mind: he sees real possibilities of winning a primary against Kicillof and Cristina Kirchner. The Buenos Aires governor, for his part, agrees that "everyone should run."
The elimination bill entered the Senate on April 22, 2026, but its treatment was postponed. Diego Santilli is planning a session for September and traveled to Catamarca to secure the support of Raúl Jalil, who hinted he is not concerned about what Peronism says.
The 'Ningunismo': The Phenomenon Worrying Everyone
Beyond internal disputes, a study by the Pulsar Observatory of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) revealed that 42% of Argentines do not identify with any political party, the highest value since 2023. The report, titled "The Rise of Ningunismo," characterizes this segment as "the most numerous in Argentine society," transversal across ages, genders, and educational levels.
"The political center, in this context, does not necessarily express programmatic moderation or an elaborate ideological position. It probably functions as a refuge zone," the study notes.
This data explains the urgency of both poles to organize their internal structures. Society punishes unjustified divisions and rewards unity, even if forced. As Jesuit priest Rodrigo Zarazaga reflects: "In the current uncertainty, party strategies become conservative. Each force plays less to conquer jurisdictions than to shield the asset it already considers its own."
Polls: A Complex Landscape
The numbers handled by both the ruling party and the opposition reflect a scenario of high volatility:
| Poll | Key Data |
|---|---|
| UdeSA | 61% disapprove of Milei's management; 57% believe the country got worse |
| Zubán Córdoba | 62% would vote for a change of government in 2027 |
| Rubikon Intel | Kicillof: 39% positive image; Cristina: 38%; Massa: 31% |
| Pulsar UBA Observatory | 42% do not identify with any party |
President Javier Milei is not improving in the polls: the numbers handled by the Casa Rosada put him closer to 30 points than 35. July inflation accelerated again (2.1% monthly, 33.8% year-on-year) and the country risk approached 500 basis points.
Looking Toward 2027: Possible Scenarios
Peronism has a year to "win and dismantle these things that later won't let us govern," according to one attendee at the conclave. The strategy includes sustaining the PASO, blocking the final approval of the Law of Inviolability of Private Property in the Chamber of Deputies, and building a solid alternative.
On the ruling side, the goal is to pass reforms before October and send signals of certainty. The conversation with PRO runs parallel to intensified dialogues with friendly governors, such as Raúl Jalil and Elías Suárez.
The most likely scenario is a polarization between LLA and Peronism, with an increasingly disillusioned electorate that could give rise to a surprise. Emilio Monzó has his own poll showing that 16% would vote "surely" for an option different from the two poles, and an additional 30% "could vote for it."
For now, the ball is in the leaders' court: they must demonstrate they can overcome their differences and offer proposals that connect with a society that watches them with skepticism. The Week of Sweetness (a traditional Argentine celebration before Easter) is over, but the wounds remain open.