Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Radicals, socialists will keep working 'in order to reach agreement'

Negotiations between the UCR and the Socialist parties seem to be stuck in an endless series of meetings that always end in “let’s meet again” and “let’s keep talking.”

At noon, Representatives from both parties Ricardo Alfonsín and Hermes Binner met again, and decided to continue working in order to reach an agreement that would allow them to create a "joint progressive front" and avoid parting ways with the socialists, who have said they would break away with the UCR if they create and alliance with Dissident Peronist Francisco de Narváez.

According to party sources, the head of the UCR National Committee, Angel Rozas and Socialist provincial senator Juan Carlos Zabala were also present in the meeting.

Both leaders held a “very relaxed conversation” in which they discussed “possible alternatives to reach an accord,” and agreed to “explore other mechanisms” to evaluate if they can create a joint front, sources said. Rozas and Zabala will later disclose what both candidates discussed and will meet again next Friday or Tuesday.

For the last couple of weeks, both parties have been engaged in arduous negotiations in an attempt to reach an agreement and create a national front to run together against the ruling party in the October presidential elections, but none of the parties seem to be willing to abandon their position.

“It will come down to either choosing us or choosing De Narváez,” Santa Fe Governor Hermes Binner had stated this morning.