At midday, at the Misiones governor's residence, Governor Hugo Passalacqua received the first line of Federal Peronism (PJ Federal), including national deputies Victoria Tolosa Paz, Guillermo Michel, Emir Félix, Buenos Aires City PJ president Juan Manuel Olmos, and Pilar mayor Federico Achával. The delegation traveled early to show support for a governor navigating a turbulent period after breaking his alliance with the historic Carlos Rovira.
A Federal Agenda for Argentina's Future
According to Infobae, the meeting aimed to “open a dialogue to coordinate agendas of interest to the province and the interests the governor represents.” Tolosa Paz shared a photo of the meeting on social media, calling it “very good” and highlighting the need for “a deeply federal new stage” based on “more dialogue” and “fraternity among those of us in politics.”
The discussion covered issues such as the poor condition of national highways 12 and 14, the neglect of productive inland regions, falling consumption, and household debt. They also addressed regional economies and the long lines of vehicles crossing into Paraguay to buy cheaper fuel and goods.
Support for Key Misiones Projects
The PJ Federal delegation reaffirmed support for the VAT reduction on cassava flour, a bill promoted by former governor and current deputy Oscar Herrera Ahuad. Tolosa Paz stated that “removing VAT and reducing it from 10.5% to cassava flour is a necessity for cassava production here, to generate value at the source.” They also committed to sustaining the emergency status for yerba mate production, a key activity in the province.
According to Misiones Opina, the group also discussed a financing system inspired by Brazil's PIX virtual wallet to protect consumers from high installment interest rates.
The Context: Rupture with Rovira
Passalacqua broke his political partnership with Rovira a few weeks ago. On August 3, he resigned from Encuentro Misionero, the party created by Rovira. The governor reshuffled his cabinet, rebuilt his political team, and took control of the province's national deputies and senators. Senator Sonia Rojas Decut aligned with Passalacqua, and in the Chamber of Deputies, the four representatives (Herrera Ahuad, Arrúa, Ruiz, and Vancsik) now back the governor and will form their own bloc.
According to La Política Online, there is a chance that the Innovación Federal bloc (comprising Misiones, Salta, Formosa, and San Luis legislators) could merge with Catamarca deputies loyal to Raúl Jalil. If that happens, the ruling party would lose support from another allied governor.
PASO Primaries and BCRA Reform
One lingering topic was the elimination of PASO primaries. The Peronist delegation probed whether they could count on the six Misiones legislators to support keeping the primaries, but no decisions were made. They also discussed reforming the Central Bank (BCRA) charter, including using reserves for REPO operations—a mechanism used in past crises to help SMEs pay salaries.
Speaking to the press, Guillermo Michel criticized the national government's management, saying the goal “must be building an alternative for 2027 that ends this national government that is impoverishing Argentines.”
The meeting fits into the strategy of the Grupo Parque Norte, launched on May 1, which seeks to build “an alternative with a national agenda” outside the dispute between La Cámpora and Axel Kicillof's MDF. According to La Nación, the group is also exploring rapprochement with Salta Governor Gustavo Sáenz and Córdoba deputy Natalia de la Sota.
The photo of Passalacqua with PJ Federal sends a clear message to the Casa Rosada about his distancing from the positions held by the Misiones bloc while Rovira was in charge. Misiones, which allied with the ruling party in the first two years of its term, now positions itself as a potential opposition partner heading into 2027.
Sources: Infobae, La Nación, Misiones Opina, La Política Online, Primera Edición