The Peronist movement in Argentina is not slowing down. Following the historic summit held last week at the Hotel Emperador in Buenos Aires, which brought together Axel Kicillof (Governor of Buenos Aires Province), Sergio Massa (former Economy Minister), Máximo Kirchner (leader of La Cámpora), and other key Peronist figures, the strategy now focuses on broadening the territorial base. According to La Política Online, the three presidential hopefuls—Kicillof, Massa, and Gerardo Zamora (Governor of Santiago del Estero)—will embark on a tour to visit the so-called “middle governors”: those Peronist governors who maintain dialogue with the administration of President Javier Milei and have not yet defined their political alignment.
The idea, agreed upon during the summit, is for these three leaders to travel across provinces accompanied by other movement figures, demonstrating that the conversations are part of a collective effort rather than individual candidacies. The goal is to explore potential agreements for the 2027 presidential election, in a scenario where the ruling party is already negotiating with the PRO (Mauricio Macri's party) and Peronism seeks to avoid fragmentation.
The Hotel Emperador Summit and the PASO Pact
The meeting on Thursday, August 13 was primarily promoted by Sergio Massa and included governors Gerardo Zamora, Sergio Ziliotto, Gustavo Melella, Ricardo Quintela, and Gildo Insfrán, along with legislative bloc leaders José Mayans (Senate) and Germán Martínez (Chamber of Deputies). There, they formed the so-called “Group of 10”, whose immediate priority is the defense of the PASO (Primarias Abiertas, Simultáneas y Obligatorias—Argentina's open, simultaneous, and mandatory primary elections).
Peronism considers the PASO essential for resolving internal disputes and presenting a unified candidate. The government, in contrast, pushes for their elimination, with support from some “dialoguist” Peronist governors. Therefore, the Group of 10 has already sent a message to those governors: if they do not support the defense of the primaries, they could face opposition lists in their provinces.
Kicillof Continues His Own Territorial Expansion
While unified dialogue advances, the Buenos Aires governor maintains his own expansion strategy. On Wednesday, August 19, he will travel to Chaco Province to participate in the normalization act of the Regional CGT (General Confederation of Labor) and present his book De Smith a Keynes at the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE). This union activity aims to strengthen ties with key labor sectors and expand the presence of the Movimiento Derecho al Futuro (MDF)—Kicillof's political movement—in other provinces.
In parallel, the MDF continues with sectional plenaries in Buenos Aires Province. On Saturday, August 15, one was held in Ramallo, with the participation of mayors Mario Secco (Ensenada) and Julio Alak (La Plata). Alak stated that “the only Peronist candidate should be Kicillof” and criticized the PJ leadership for “not understanding the people.” The next plenary will be in the Third Electoral Section, and the goal is to complete all sections before September, followed by a federal meeting with leaders from various provinces.
Internal Peronist Tensions: Unity vs. Personal Ambitions
The Hotel Emperador summit was seen as a first step toward restoring dialogue, but internal differences remain. According to Ámbito, Massa's inner circle denies that the former minister will run for president or governor, stating that “his time has not yet come.” Meanwhile, the name of Natalia de la Sota, daughter of the late Córdoba governor, is being floated as a possible vice-presidential candidate alongside Kicillof, though some view this as “an operation to lower his price.”
Political analyst Luis Majul wrote in La Nación that the campaign has already begun, with both the ruling party and the opposition fully engaged in political maneuvering. Within Peronism, the tug-of-war between Kicillof, Massa, and the hardline Kirchnerist sector remains open, but the defense of the PASO has become the initial point of contact.
What Does Peronism Seek from the “Middle” Governors?
The Peronist governors who maintain dialogue with the Casa Rosada—such as Osvaldo Jaldo (Tucumán) and Raúl Jalil (Catamarca)—are the targets of this new offensive. La Rioja Governor Ricardo Quintela has already announced he will speak with them to bring them closer to the national PJ. The strategy is twofold: on one hand, to gather support for the defense of the PASO; on the other, to build an electoral framework that respects provincial interests.
During the summit, several attendees demanded that the internal disputes of Buenos Aires Peronism not be “exported” to the provinces. “They send us a provincial minister who meets with some mayors, and then La Cámpora or Sergio's people show up and create chaos,” said a deputy from the interior. The request was noted, but the overall tone was positive, buoyed by the Senate victory against the land foreignization law and by polls showing a potential runoff with Milei.
Next Steps: Chaco, Plenaries, and a Federal Event
Kicillof's agenda includes, in addition to Chaco, the continuation of MDF plenaries in Buenos Aires sections and a federal plenary in September that aims to showcase the movement's expansion. Meanwhile, Massa and Zamora will also conduct their own tours, always with the objective of broadening the base before discussing candidacies.
“The MDF is not a franchise, and no one is the sole representative in the provinces. Axel's idea is to represent all sectors,” explained sources close to him. The motto is clear: “Neither finger nor backroom deals, the people.” For now, unity is built through dialogue and territorial presence.