The Buenos Aires Justicialist Party faces internal divisions between Máximo Kirchner and Axel Kicillof, with mayors pressing for an orderly transition. The party council will meet this Friday to set the election date, as the current term ends on December 18. Máximo Kirchner criticized the 'desperation' of some candidates and stressed the need for consensus.
The Buenos Aires Justicialist Party is navigating a period of high political fragility, highlighted by the internal rift between national deputy Máximo Kirchner, the current party leader, and Governor Axel Kicillof. This tension is compounded by the role of mayors and a fractured legislative bloc, according to local reports. The party council will convene on Friday, December 19, to begin defining new leadership, responding to pressures for orderly elections. Kirchner's term expires on December 18, with polls slated for February or March 2026, potentially involving affiliate votes.
In a radio interview, Kirchner addressed the call: "The province cannot have a project different from that of the country, and we need to ensure consensus within the party." He criticized the "nominal desperation of some to be candidates," stating: "We have to get to Friday and sit down with our comrades." He emphasized rebuilding internal trust and the value of the word in Peronism.
Kirchner also sidestepped talk of his reelection, focusing on national challenges and questioning President Javier Milei's management style: "You can't advance just with tweets or empty speeches." He praised his mother, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's courage amid judicial restrictions, including house arrest. "Her absence not only limits Peronism but the entire country," he said, noting her experience in crises like 2008.
Friday's meeting will be pivotal for setting a participatory framework, allowing affiliate representatives to define dates and candidates. There is insistence on a transition that avoids deeper fractures, amid efforts to restore Argentine self-esteem and economic sovereignty.
