It all started with an unthinkable statement from the most important corporate bodies and pro-administration trade unions, in which they explicitly expressed their support for

Néstor Kirchner, on his third anniversary in office.

Bankers, stockbrokers, powerful businesspeople from all sectors (especially from the construction sector, an unconditional ally of the current Planning Minister, who repays this devotion by granting huge public works contracts without calling for bids), industrials, marketers, councils; paradoxically, the same people that complain about the “anti-enterprise” labor legislation this Government is passing in Congress unopposed, thanks to the majority it enjoys.

The second episode was a move by Miguel Bonasso (former terrorist and current representative for Kirchner’s party), who managed to stop a national representative from assuming his office, in spite of his having been voted by almost half a million citizens. In an unprecedented process, Bonasso contested Luis Patti on the grounds of Patti’s being a retired police officer that fought the guerillas in the bloody 70’s, and against whom subversive elements hold a grudge, just as they resent every force that stood for the country’s institutions during those years of turmoil.

With support from extreme left-wing politicians and some members of the Unión Cívica Radical, he managed to keep Patti from becoming a representative, an action that spurred a significant reaction among the citizenry. A large group of people has demanded to be excluded from the voter registry. It is worth mentioning that voting is compulsory in Argentina, and failing to do so is punishable by law. These citizens claim, however, that if their choices are not going to be respected, they should not be forced to vote.

The problem is that their complaints will go directly to one of many national judges who are generally more than willing to stay in good terms with those in power. The fate of these complaints is thus pretty much decided: they are soon to be filed into oblivion.

The third episode, perhaps the loudest and most terrible, is the political demonstration scheduled for May 25th by Kirchner, outside the presidential building, where he is to garner support for the current administration and, at the same time, launch his reelection campaign.

Kirchner wants to stay for another four years: This administration, so far, has repealed laws and replaced members of the Supreme Court with more pro-administration candidates. It also is fostering the decriminalization of abortion and possession of drugs for personal use; seeks more lenient laws for those that deal on narcotics; prohibits, controls or restricts exports of domestic output; dismantles the basic functions of the armed forces; defaults contracts; freezes utilities’ fees; increases public expenditure to fund political employees; has people incarcerated for indefinite periods of time without due process; controls most of the media and harasses the few that remain independent; attacks dissent; manages an enormous budget of public funds with no parliamentary control whatsoever; and worsens bilateral relationships with several countries. That is the Néstor Kirchner who wants to stay for another four years.

It is terrible that those that wield economic power commend an authoritarian government that curtails individual freedoms. The situation is much worse if they share interests with the trade unions that are allies to this administration.

It is terrible that the ethics of an unethical person prevail and modify the people’s sovereignty. One cannot help worrying at the presidential intention of hoarding all power and wielding it indefinitely. It is sad to see this as an image of today’s Argentina.

Indira Gandhi used to say that “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist”. Is it possible that president Kirchner has no intention whatsoever of shaking hands with anybody?

* María Zaldívar is a TV journalist from Argentina and Bachelor of Political Science (UCA, Catholic University of Argentina)

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