City public buildings to lose Federal Police guard, City Gov't considers pressing charges

City Cabinet Chief Horacio Rodríguez Larreta said Mayor Mauricio Macri considering pressing charges against  Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s administration due its decision of Federal Police not longer guarding City’s public buildings as from Tuesday.

“We are considering pressing charges against the Government. Law 25.488 is clear: the national Government will still be in charge of the City’s security and guard of its citizens and goods," he said.

The decision was made by the Security Ministry and will come into force on Tuesday. Security Minister Nilda Garré stated that with this measure she hopes to "reinforce the presence of Federal Police agents in the streets."

City Metropolitan Police head Eugenio Burzaco said that Mayor Mauricio Macri’s administration was “surprised” by the news.

“We found out about it last Friday afternoon through a city government official. Nobody in the Fernández de Kirchner administration contacted us. The Metropolitan Police cannot guard these buildings. If the situation isn’t reverted we will have to hire a private security firm,” Burzaco warned.

"The Federal Police has juridistiction over the City. It’s been clear since December that the Federal Police doesn’t want to be in the City. What we ask for is what we have been  requesting for several months: to be allowed to take over the city's jurisdiction,” added Burzaco.

Burzaco explained that the Security Ministry’s decision to remove Federal Police officers affects over 1200 buildings, including hospitals and schools. City Hall will also lose its guard.