http://argentinanow.tripod.com.ar/news.html
On May 25, 1810, the day of the Argentine Revolution, Argentines gathered in front of the Cabildo and ousted the viceroy, claiming he no longer represented their interests. On May 25 of this year, the populace once again gathered on the streets to honor the national holiday, but this time many of them were banging pots, insulting politicians, and handing out bananas.
While President Dualde conducted the usual ceremonies to a lukewarm crowd who politely applauded his speeches, throngs of people pressed up against metal barriers erected by police, banging pots and displaying a banner which read "Que Se Vayan Todos" --Get Rid of Them All. Women in historical costumes moved throughout the crowd, passing out bananas with a blue ribbon around them that read: "The People Know What It's All About." Members of local neighborhood assemblies said that the bananas were meant as a visual comment on the idea of the "banana republic" , as well as having obvious phallic connotations.
In the province of Santa Fe, the governor escaped out the side door after giving his speech to avoid an angry crowd of potbangers, but the minister of Health, Carlos Parola, was not so lucky: he ran into 400 people who insulted and spit upon him.
Catholic Archbishop Bergoglio, in his traditional speech, said "National Dissolution is at the Gates" and blamed this on the greed and hunger for power of "political, business, and union leaders."
In one Buenos Aires school district the day before, children from several different schools put together a chain of Argentine flags to demonstrate to the world that "We are not a colony."
(Clarin, 26 May, Pagina 12, 24 May)
If elections were held today, current president Eduardo Dualde would receive 1.8% of the vote, and 90% of the populace would vote for a complete change of representatives in both houses, according to the results of a poll conducted by the consulting firm CEOP and released by Clarin on Sunday. Voters were divided on calling for elections before the scheduled time in September 2003, with 50.3% for and 42.3% against. Fifty two per cent of the voters said there was currently no political organization in existence that could lead the country out of its crisis.
(Clarin, 26 May)
The legislative dispute continues over whether or not to remove the Economic Subversion Law, as demanded by the International Monetary Fund, with a revised bill returning to both houses of Congress today. This law has been use by Argentine investigators to prosecute bankers for illegally removing funds from the country.
The removal of the law has been supported by most Peronists, who argue that existing laws will protect the country against financial crimes. The Radicals, as well as a resisting block of Peronists, have held the position that the effect of the removal of this law will be an immediate halt to all investigative activities, as well as amnesty and impunity for the bankers being prosecuted.
"We will give no one impunity," said one Radical leader, Humberto Roggero.
The IMF has claimed that without removing this law and dropping the current investigation of banks like Citibank and Bank Boston, foreign investors and banks will be hesitant to re-invest in the Argentine economy.
(Clarin, 27 May)
As the economy worsens,more and more bankrupt Argentine companies are being taken over by the banks they owe money to. This has been compounded by the rising dollar debt incurred by companies after the devaluation of the peso. Currently Citibank is the largest owner, with 100 companies, followed by Banco Nacion, who also owns 12 million hectares of land. Generally, the objective of the owning bank is not to manage the company but to buy and sell it as quickly as possible.
(Clarin, 26 May)
The plan to give a 150 a month subsidy to unemployed heads of household is moving at a snail's pace. Spokespeople for President Dualde argue that politicians in the provinces are refusing to hand over the lists of people who need the subsidy because they don't want to lose this as a political tool, while provincial officials blame Dualde's administration for disorganization and technical problems in administering the plan.
(Clarin, 27 May)
The Agrarian Federation of Argentina has called for a four day strike which will include roadblocks and demonstrations. The protest will be joined by small and medium sized transportation companies, who will stop their trucks until the government resolves problems connected with rising fuel prices.
(Clarin, 27 May)