Argentina's Peronist movement is not sleeping. A week after the summit that brought together Axel Kicillof, Sergio Massa, and Máximo Kirchner at the Hotel Emperador in Buenos Aires, along with governors and legislative leaders, talks have accelerated with a clear goal: defend the PASO primaries and build a unified strategy for the 2027 elections.
According to Ámbito, dialogues are open among the various Peronist factions to expand support for the Primarias Abiertas, Simultáneas y Obligatorias (PASO) – Argentina's open, simultaneous, and mandatory primary elections. This move runs parallel to negotiations between the PRO party and La Libertad Avanza, which are also seeking electoral agreements.
The Hotel Emperador Summit and the Group of 10
The key meeting took place on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at the Hotel Emperador in Buenos Aires. At the same table sat Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof, La Cámpora leader Máximo Kirchner, and Frente Renovador leader Sergio Massa, marking a real first step toward reconciliation after months of tensions.
Also participating were governors Gerardo Zamora (Santiago del Estero), Sergio Ziliotto (La Pampa), Gustavo Melella (Tierra del Fuego), Ricardo Quintela (La Rioja), and Gildo Insfrán (Formosa), along with Senator José Mayans and Deputy Germán Martínez. This core group forms the so-called Group of 10.
The meeting, particularly promoted by Massa, had the short-term goal of keeping the PASO. Peronism considers primaries a vital tool for resolving internal candidacies and presenting a unified list, while the ruling party seeks to eliminate them to prevent the opposition from uniting in a runoff.
Strategy: Reaching Out to 'Middle' Governors
According to La Política Online, the summit agreed to work in 'pairs' to visit Peronist governors who maintain dialogue with the government – the so-called 'middle governors'. The idea is for Massa, Kicillof, and Zamora – the three current Peronist presidential hopefuls – to tour the provinces accompanied by other group members, ensuring neutral conversations and a collective approach.
In this context, Kicillof will travel to Chaco on Wednesday, August 19 to participate in a CGT Regional event and present his book at the National University of the Northeast (UNNE). Additionally, the Buenos Aires governor will launch the youth branch of the Movimiento Derecho al Futuro (MDF) on August 22 in San Martín.
A federal Peronist plenary is also expected in September, while contacts intensify with leaders such as Osvaldo Jaldo (Tucumán) and Raúl Jalil (Catamarca), dissident governors who have not yet defined their position.
Threat to Governors and Massa's Role
The Group of 10 sent a clear message to Peronist governors closest to the government: the PJ's intention is to keep the PASO, and if any governor does not support it, lists could be formed to compete in their territories. A warning aimed at enforcing discipline.
Meanwhile, Massa's inner circle denies that the former Economy Minister will run for president or governor. They say 'his time has not yet come' and that the rumors are operations to harm him. However, Massa plays a role as articulator and peacemaker, and his name continues to resonate.
Natalia de la Sota: The Young Card
Among the figures gaining ground is Natalia de la Sota, a Córdoba deputy and daughter of former Governor José Manuel de la Sota. She is mentioned as a possible vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Kicillof, although some sectors deny this version and call it 'an operation to lower her price.'
Peronism seeks to renew its ranks and add new faces, in a context where polls show a decline in government approval and a 2027 election that appears more competitive than expected.
Context: The Government Wants to Eliminate PASO
The defense of the PASO is not coincidental. The bill to eliminate primaries was introduced in the Senate on April 22, 2026 and has the backing of the Casa Rosada (the presidential palace). The ruling party seeks to change electoral law with the support of allied Peronist governors, but the opposition has already gathered between 37 and 39 votes in the Senate to block the reform.
Meanwhile, the political table between LLA and PRO advances: Karina Milei and Mauricio Macri held phone contacts and a meeting on Thursday, August 13 at Casa Rosada, with the presence of Diego Santilli, the Menem family, Ritondo, and De Andreis. They agreed to meet every two weeks, although differences persist over the PASO and electoral strategy.
Peronism, for its part, bets on unity and the defense of primaries as a tool of internal legitimacy. The tug-of-war is just beginning.