Scioli refuses to pesify dollar savings

Following recent criticism from President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Buenos Aires province Governor Daniel Scioli yesterday justified his savings in US dollars by affirming: “I have a physical problem that is obvious and that forces me to travel once a year, so I have to be reasonable about the availability of resources toward my treatment,” in reference to his prosthetic arm.

The governor asserted, however, that he resolves such “matters” in “appropriate areas,” adding that he has certain “differences” with the President, although recognizing that she directs an “ample” following, and that they complement each other nonetheless.

“We generally agree on matters beyond each other’s nuances, (which) has been demonstrated throughout these intense ten years,” Scioli insisted, suggesting he did not have to “overact” his “loyalty.”

The governor stated that “this works as in any team: we are different and complement each other,” adding that he told late former President Néstor Kirchner that “close-minded thought is not good.”

Scioli also referred to his relationship with Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, asserting that they have “known each other for many years, and” their “wives are friends,” but that it is “clear” that they “belong to different parties.”

With regard to the financial situation in his province, the governor said that his administration will attempt to “maximize the optimization of the revenue allocated for spending,” but that creating or increasing tax was not an option, because a “maximum” level had already been reached, and such a policy would be detrimental to economic activity and competitiveness.

Scioli concluded that a “wide negotiation table” would be proposed at the approaching teachers’ wage negotiations.

Herald with Telam