Private consultants 'randomly come up with price index estimates,' Cabinet Chief

As he briefed the Senate on the government's management report, Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández, rejected price index estimates issued by economic consulting firms, stating that “they randomly come up with them and lie to the Argentine people.”

Fernández explained that economic consulting firms “randomly come up with price index estimates,” and that is why “they claim their way to calculate them is secret.” 

“The lie to the Argentine people and lie to whoever paid them to calculate them,” he stated.

After being asked about a rise in subsidies by UCR Senator Ramón Mestre, Fernández explained that “the subsidies structure is put in place in order to solve the salary problems affecting regular men and woman.”

He also said he supported the government’s education and development policies, explaining that the administration’s three pillars are “investigation, education and growth.”

“We believe in an Argentina that promotes investigation, education and the growth of its population. We are convinced that that is the path we must follow, and we are not going to give that up,” he stated.

Regarding border control, the Cabinet Chief stated that the government “hopes to have 100 percent of the continental airspace under radar surveillance,” by 2013.

According to article 101 of the National Constitution, the Chief of Staff must visit the Congress at least once a month, alternating Upper and Lower houses, to deliver a government’s management report, something that no minister has ever complied with. As a matter of fact, Fernández last report was addressed back in June, 2010.      

An anxious opposition approached Fernández with heavy ammunition as the fired the minister with stinging questions over some of the hottest topics such as inflation, drug traffic, the controversial methodology used by the INDEC statistics bureau, and the political reform, among other.            

Radical Party’s Senator, Gerardo Morales questioned the minister over inflation rate, subsidies granted to public services, debt swap, and the current status of the Army, and both Defence and Security ministries.     

Likewise, Senator Miguel Cabanchik (Probafe party), aked Fernández for explanations on policies adopted in order to coordinate the working of the Federal Police and the recently-created Metropolitan police.