10/07/2026 03:42 - Politica
During the ceremonies for the 210th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence celebrated on July 9, 2026 in the province of Tucumán, Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel made a notable political move by distancing herself from President Javier Milei. For international context, Tucumán is the historical cradle of Argentine independence, declared in 1816. Villarruel openly criticized the president's proposed 'shutdown' of the state—a radical libertarian policy aimed at drastically reducing government ministries and agencies—and labeled his speech in the province as 'too political'.
In the framework of the traditional Tedeum—a Catholic thanksgiving mass held for patriotic events—at the Metropolitan Cathedral, the vice president took the opportunity to demand 'real federalism' (a recurring demand in Argentine politics where provinces seek less centralism from Buenos Aires) and flirted with the electoral scenario for the year 2027, mentioning her intentions to continue serving the nation. Rumors of a possible independent presidential candidacy have generated tensions within the ruling coalition, which seeks to consolidate a unified strategy.
While the vice president charts her own course, the national government is advancing its reelection strategy for the upcoming elections. Negotiations are being led by Diego Santilli, who assumed the role of Chief of Staff on June 30, 2026. The Casa Rosada (the seat of the Argentine executive branch) seeks to close ranks and avoid internal dispersions that could affect the political capital gained in recent months.
The ceremony in Tucumán was attended by the President alongside 13 governors and the vice governor of Córdoba, demonstrating that the national Executive maintains a strong articulation with the provinces despite frictions at the top of the power structure.
The macroeconomic landscape supports the government's aspirations. The Argentine country risk index (a measure of the premium investors demand to hold Argentine debt) stands in a range of 408 to 412 points, showing a remarkable recovery in market confidence. The official exchange rate at Banco Nación (BNA), the state-owned bank, is quoted at $1,510 ARS to the US dollar, while the Market Expectations Survey (REM, for its Spanish acronym) projects the US currency would reach $1,673 ARS by December 2026.
To this is added the presentation of the financial plan 2026/2027 by the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, which projects a surplus of USD 3.7 billion for the current year, consolidating the path of fiscal stability that the ruling party intends to capitalize on ahead of the elections.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
