🇦🇷 Argentina Episodes

Carlos Pagni's analysis on Odisea Argentina aired on LN+ on April 21, 2025.

The recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not have improved public perception of Javier Milei's government's economic direction in a key election year to define how the presidential administration will be in the coming years of its term. "The government is in a very difficult situation, the most difficult since the start of its term. It ended up resorting to a loan from the International Monetary Fund because the dollars they had promised never arrived," said Gustavo Córdoba, director of the Argentine consulting firm Zubán Córdoba, to Cara o ceca. According to the analyst, the economy remains the main concern of Argentines, beyond the start of the electoral calendar in some provinces. "Today in Argentina there is no electoral climate. People's concern is about the economy, both for people who suffer from economic policy and for those who still support it," he explained. Córdoba questioned the ruling party's approach: "The government manages the perception of the day to day a lot, it does not have a long-term vision. They take measures with an eye to effect rather than effectiveness." He also warned about the social cost of the reforms requested by the IMF: "The government knows that it will have to take unpleasant measures, such as raising the retirement age. 70% of those interviewed in our surveys are against that reform." In electoral terms, Córdoba stressed that the ruling party lost support, but maintains a base. "The government lost adherence. Today 40% still support it, but there is 60% that focuses on an opposition vote. If the scenario remains stable, they could reach 40 or 45% of the votes. If it gets complicated, they could drop to 35%. They will never get the percentage they achieved in the second round that took them to the presidency [56% in November 2023]," he concluded. After the devaluation, tires become unattainable for many Argentines. The latest devaluation has had a direct impact on the price of many imported inputs, such as tires, where there was an immediate impact and there is strong uncertainty in the sector. "We received increases of 30% from an international tire brand and, since this is a sector where the profit margin is very small, that increase was disastrous for us," said Valery Ieromin, owner of a specialized store, to Cara o ceca. As for national brands, there were also increases, although more moderate: "The increases were 10% and it affected in a varied way. Today a tire is unattainable for many people," he said. According to Ieromin, although it cannot be said that they are 'expensive', the economic reality means that "today a tire costs approximately 200 dollars, but filling a tank of gasoline costs 80 dollars." The merchant also stressed that the devaluation generated confusion and lack of foresight: "This increase affected a lot because it was applied before it was known what was going to happen. There is a lot of uncertainty and the issue is that the dollar went down, but prices did not go down."

On May 18, the capital's legislature will be renewed, where the ruling party seeks to prevail and end the 18-year hegemony of Republican Proposal. In Ecuador, the opposition still does not recognize the results of the presidential elections of Sunday, April 13. A month before the elections in the Argentine capital to renew its local legislature, the campaign ignited in a fragmented scenario. The results will have repercussions at the national level, both for Javier Milei's La Libertad Avanza and for the opposition. "We have a very lackluster city, with garbage, without maintenance. This is about who addresses the concrete problems and that is why I am so sure that our list will have a high level of adherence. This is reflected in the care of the squares, the city police; ministers with clear ideas on how to control the various areas are lacking," said Jorge Telerman, former head of Government of the City of Buenos Aires and candidate for Buenos Aires legislator for Volvamos Buenos Aires, a list headed by Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, the predecessor of the current head of Government Jorge Macri, in Cara o Ceca. "There is a universe of politicians who still do not understand what is happening in society. If we continue to analyze reality as before, it will pass us by. In the district election, we must discuss the concrete problems and not national politics. People ask about transportation, security, or services," he added. "At the national level, we are facing a new scenario that started in 2023. The political system imploded and emerged from something that was not foreseen, as a manifestation of rejection of the old," he summarized. The Ecuadorian opposition insists on allegations of electoral fraud The presidential candidate of Correísmo, Luisa González, still does not recognize the results of the runoff election last Sunday, April 13, which re-elected Daniel Noboa with 55% of the votes, considering that there were irregularities in the process. "The accusations still have no basis, to the point that co-religionists of her political organization have already recognized the results and left Luisa alone in her claim. She argues that it is inconsistent that the difference in votes between the first and second round went from 17,000 to one million," said Andrés Jaramillo, an Ecuadorian journalist, in Cara o Ceca. "Now Noboa has to govern in complex conditions: an economic crisis that has not stopped deepening since the pandemic and another of security. The president has already anticipated that he will promote a reform of the Constitution," he concluded.

Argentine opposition deputies rejected the increase in withholdings for the agricultural sector announced for June by Javier Milei, and legislators from the province of Córdoba presented a bill to maintain withholdings at their current value until the end of the year and not restore export duties reduced or eliminated since 2024. "We decided to present a bill that seeks to guarantee fiscal stability for the entire agricultural sector and give the Executive Branch a restriction so that it does not increase or restore what has already been established with respect to export duties. We need a market with clear rules and a stable scenario so that there are better investments, better jobs and more competitive salaries," said Alejandra Torres, national deputy of Encuentro Federal and one of the authors of the Cara o Ceca project. According to the legislator, "the measure responds to a growing concern in the provinces and regional economies." Torres criticized President Milei's statements about a possible increase in withholdings towards the end of June: "We heard the president intimidate the countryside to liquidate its harvests to obtain the necessary pesos and comply with the request of the International Monetary Fund." In tax matters, Torres pointed against the restrictions on exports because "they do not work. The reduction of taxes is favorable for the growth of other taxes that finance the central government." China reacted to US interference in its relations with Argentina. During his visit to Argentina, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who suggested that the Government should advance in the cancellation of the currency swap with China, comments that were harshly criticized by the Embassy of the Asian country in Buenos Aires. "We advise the United States to adjust its mentality instead of wasting time defaming and repeatedly attacking China and interfering in the foreign cooperation of the countries in the region," they stated from the consular representation. "The United States does not want China in its backyard, which is the first and second trading partner of all the countries in Latin America, Brazil, Argentina, and has been doing works such as the port of Chancay in Peru," said Gustavo Ng, director of the magazine DangDai, specialized in China, in Cara o Ceca. "The Chinese say they have strategic patience. They know that Argentina is a rich country in every sense and it is inevitable that cooperation will grow despite the fact that there are moments where things freeze. But China's growth in the world and the relationship with Argentina is irreversible," he concluded.

We conversed with journalist Manuel Jove about Santiago Caputo, Milei's confidant, who rose to become a leading government figure. Separately, Spain sent its Economy Minister to Washington to ease bilateral tensions. Santiago Caputo, the presidential advisor without public office, was included by Javier Milei in the "iron triangle" and became a key figure in the Argentine government's political strategy. Manuel Jove and Maia Jastreblansky's new book, The Monk: The True Story of Santiago Caputo, Milei's Screenwriter, sheds light on this character. "Within what Milei himself called the 'iron triangle,' Caputo is the third vertex of an inseparable duo, like the relationship of the two siblings Karina and Javier Milei. In that triad, both fully rely on Santiago Caputo. In that scheme, each fulfills a specific role and function," said Manuel Jove from the Cara o Ceca studios. The author describes Caputo as a political advisor with increasing weight. "His role is that of a political consultant and advisor, which becomes very relevant in election years. The last guru we had seen in Argentine politics was Jaime Durán Barba [in charge of Mauricio Macri's campaign in 2015], with whom he worked at some point," he added. "Before working with Javier Milei, he and his partner Rodrigo Lugones were already projecting that the rift between Kirchnerism and Macrismo could only be overcome with an outsider. They sought that figure among many prominent personalities," Jove asserted. The US and Spain are approaching each other with a meeting between their Economy Ministers. Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo traveled to Washington to meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and ease tensions after the cross accusations between Donald Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, where the American denounced Spain's approach to China. From Madrid, in turn, they criticized Trump's tariff increase. In this context, Sánchez also visited Xi Jinping in China. "This meeting came about in recent days. Spain wants to mark its position to negotiate, it is a very important partner. Washington took Sánchez's visit to China as 'cutting off his head,' so this meeting would only be for the photo," said journalist Claudia Luna Palencia on Cara o Ceca. "Pedro Sánchez is interested in the Chinese leader, but the visit just coincided with the tariff increase. It was arranged since June 2024. It was not a reaction to what happened with the United States," she summarized.

Carlos Pagni's analysis on Argentine Odyssey aired on LN+ on April 14, 2025.

Argentina's bulky legislative electoral calendar had its first appointment this past Sunday the 13th in Santa Fe, where the open primaries for municipal positions and the formation of a constituent convention to reform the Magna Carta were played, to enable the re-election of Governor Maximiliano Pullaro. Pullaro won by a wide margin with 34% of the votes, which will grant him 33 constituents out of a total of 69. He was followed by Peronism represented by Juan Monteverde, with 15%. Javier Milei's La Libertad Avanza was relegated to third place; his candidate Nicolás Mayoraz garnered 14%. "There is no town where the governor has not won and thus the constitutional reform was ensured. La Libertad Avanza did not have a good election, although it bit the Peronist candidate, which implies a wake-up call for the political organizer [and secretary of the Presidency] Karina Milei, who did not agree with Amalia Granata [another conservative candidate], who obtained almost the same amount," said Damián Schwarztein, a political journalist from Santa Fe, on Cara o ceca. However, the analyst highlighted the low electoral turnout, which did not exceed 55%. "There was an absence of 1,300,000 voters. It is an enormous loss of votes for the governor, who had won in 2023 with more than a million votes and yesterday only prevailed with 500,000. The people put a ceiling on him." Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa has passed away The prominent Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa (1936-2025) died at the age of 89 in Lima and the Government declared National Mourning for this Monday the 14th. The multi-award-winning writer published successful titles such as The City and the Dogs, The Green House and Conversation in the Cathedral. "His work leaves us with a vision of what Latin America is and countries divided in conflict over unresolved issues. His entire work is an epic of the transgressor, an ode to the rebel. From very early in his life, his characters always rebelled against some imposed order," said Alonso Cueto, Peruvian writer and author of the book Mario Vargas Llosa: Words in the World, on Cara o ceca. "The literary legacy that he leaves us in his work is that human beings always have to face some kind of law, a social order, customs or some political system, and that we always have to respond in some way to that system. Whether through rebellion or confrontation or creation. It is a reflection on power and rebellion. Those characters who represent rebellion or creativity will always stay with us," he added. Finally, he spoke about the writer's political vision: "One could disagree, but what one always accepted is that he always said what he thought. He never had party slogans, nor ideological slogans. He was a writer who, following the example of Jean-Paul Sartre, wanted to be a conscience within the society in which he lived," he concluded.

Amidst Buenos Aires city elections, legislative candidates present proposals seeking votes. Ecuador decides its future between Daniel Noboa and Luisa González in the April 13th runoff. Emmanuel Ferrario, Buenos Aires city legislator candidate for Vamos Buenos Aires, led by ex-mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, who broke with Mauricio Macri's PRO, stated: "With Larreta, the city worked. That’s our main difference with Jorge Macri’s current administration. The district is dirty and neglected today. There’s trash everywhere, broken tiles. They created new problems that were solved. The ruling party broke our district's ways of doing things." "With Macri, we're losing the opportunity to discuss a future. We must develop local train lines, coordinating with the national government, debate bus electrification, and ensure accessibility for all in all areas." "Another issue is rents. We must design policies to help young people access housing, like providing loans or converting downtown buildings into apartments for young people." Ecuador decides its future between Daniel Noboa and Luisa González in the runoff. The South American country reaches this stage amidst a highly polarized electoral climate. On April 13th, Daniel Noboa, of Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN), seeks power continuity, while Luisa González, of Movimiento Revolución Ciudadana, is Correísmo's card to return to the Presidency after eight years. "In the first round, we saw an excess of polls. All said there was a first-round winner, but now we see the opposite. Now, the few pollsters who published their polls show a technical tie. Those closest to the government gave Noboa a four-time advantage," commented Ecuadorian political analyst Omar Sempertegui. "González modified her first-round campaign message and began convening all sectors of society. She even met with the indigenous movement to sign agreements. Meanwhile, the ruling party's strategy was to seek a photo with Trump in Mar-a-Lago." "The Executive seeking US support shows they know votes decreased compared to the first round."

In a statement, the agency explained that the plan is subject to board approval. Separately, Javier Milei met with his counterpart Santiago Peña in Paraguay in search of a "freedom" ally within Mercosur. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that it reached a technical agreement with Argentine authorities for 20 billion dollars over a period of 48 months. The agreement is subject to board approval. "The agreement with the Fund highlights the Government's problems. It is like a 'spare tire'. The important thing will be to know the details, which we still do not know. The Executive can agree to whatever it wants, because Congress gave it free rein," said Silvina Batakis, Minister of Habitat and Urban Development of the Province of Buenos Aires, former president of Banco Nación and former Minister of Economy, in Cara o сeca. "It is unprecedented that the advance is 60% [of the total amount]. With this case and with that of the Government of Mauricio Macri, we see that the IMF makes exceptions only with right-wing governments, because they try to sustain a policy of investment inflow into the country, which ends in capital flight. Since its return, Argentina has paid the IMF almost 13 billion dollars," she explained. Batakis referred to the internal affairs of Peronism in the strategic province of Buenos Aires, its electoral stronghold, between former Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Governor Axel Kicillof, over the latter's decision to split the local elections from the national ones, in disagreement with the head of Peronism. "The governor signed a decree setting the election date, there is no time to dwell on the matter any longer. The split will already be a fact; we will see if we go to two or three elections [an internal one, another for provincial legislators and the third for national deputies and senators, which would be on different dates]," she concluded. Milei seeks in Santiago Peña a "freedom" ally within Mercosur. The Argentine Head of State, Javier Milei, traveled to Paraguay and held a meeting with its president, Santiago Peña, at the Government Palace, to strengthen trade and political ties between countries, in the run-up to the Mercosur foreign ministers meeting in Buenos Aires on April 11. "In Paraguay, they were surprised by the visit, because it was not announced. Peña's statements were very formal, it was felt that the specific and urgent points such as Argentina's unpaid debt to our country were not touched. It was very symbolic," commented Esteban Caballero, political scientist and coordinator of the working group on International Relations of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Paraguay, in Cara o сeca. "Politically, we are in a process of change regarding the internal challenges that 'Cartismo' [the Government party led by former President Horacio Cartes] has. There are many opinions on how to position themselves in the upcoming municipal elections of 2026. Meanwhile, the opposition is seeking unity after the defeat in the 2023 presidential elections, where it was very fragmented," he added.

Allies of former President Cristina Kirchner insist on unifying local elections with national ones. Separately, Trump's tariffs impacted African economies. The internal dispute continues within Peronism in the strategic province of Buenos Aires, following Governor Axel Kicillof's decision to separate local elections from the national elections in October of this year, against the opinion of former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. "What is being discussed in the province has to do with the electoral calendar. It is convenient for Buenos Aires residents to vote on the same day to confront the policies of the Milei government," said Facundo Tignanelli, head of the Unión por la Patria bloc in the Chamber of Deputies of the province of Buenos Aires, who reports to the former president. Tignanelli's group still seeks to avoid voting on three different days. "Today there are two decrees coexisting: the one calling for the PASO [open internal elections] and the general election, separated. We want to overturn both decrees, so that Buenos Aires residents will vote on only one day," he concluded. Trump's tariffs harm African economies. The tariffs announced by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, are severely impacting trade relations between Washington and several African countries. "The response to the tariffs has been very critical. Countries like Madagascar, Mauritius, and South Africa are going to move directly away from the trade relationship and are looking for new partners such as China, Russia, or members of the European Union. In this way, the United States is going to lose several 'spots'," said Omer Freixa, historian and teacher, specialist in Africa. "The United States wants commercial primacy, but it is shooting itself in the foot. I don't think these measures will give it local economic benefits," he stated. "This measure goes beyond ideological issues. While Burkina Faso is exempt from reciprocal tariffs, its partners, such as Niger and Mali, have 10% like Argentina," he concluded.

Buenos Aires province governor Axel Kicillof formalized separating local legislative elections from the October national deputies and senators elections, against ex-president Cristina Kirchner's request. Separately, South Korea set elections for June 3, after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Social leader Alejandro Pitu Salvatierra, candidate for legislator in Buenos Aires city for Unión por la Patria, visited Cara o Ceca studios and referred to the internal conflict between governor Kicillof and ex-president and Justicialist Party leader Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, over party leadership. Salvatierra is a journalist and social activist. He also coordinates a training institute that brings together neighborhood cooperatives, adult schools, and a soup kitchen that assists 600 people. "I find the internal conflict in Peronism unnecessary. Splitting elections doesn't help the space. The experience has never been good. There's a relaxation of militancy after an election, which often causes a defeat. I'm more concerned about the defeat in October [in the national legislative elections] than the one we might suffer in the city's," he said. "It was Axel's mistake not to support Cristina in her candidacy for the presidency of the Justicialist Party [PJ]. By not doing so, he caused a sector to begin criticizing him for months. If you don't make gestures to de-escalate, you are part of the problem. It's a natural discussion in politics, the problem is that they are held in the open and in a complex situation like the one we are going through with this Government," he added. On the other hand, Salvatierra spoke about his first experience on a Peronist list. "I've wanted to be a candidate in the city for a long time. The villas are a key point in this election. In 20 years of government by Propuesta Republicana (PRO) only the Rodrigo Bueno complex was built, to hide the poverty and the serious urbanization problem that exists. In addition, 90% of the popular neighborhoods need soup kitchens to access a meal a day," he concluded. South Korea will go to elections on June 3 to replace the impeached president. The call was decided by the interim ruler, Han Duck Soo, after the South Korean Constitutional Court impeached Yoon Suk Yeol for declaring martial law in December 2024. "Korea is in a process of re-establishing the entire institutional system. Having the sentence of the impeachment of the previous president opens the way for the political and economic reconstitution of the country," said Carlos Argañaraz, coordinator of the Korea group in the Committee on Asian Affairs of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI), in Cara o Ceca. "There is a great discussion among the political parties: some tendencies are asking for a referendum simultaneously with the early elections, to reform the Constitution and reduce the presidential term from five to four years, and for the prime minister to be elected by the Assembly and not by the Executive," he stated.

Carlos Pagni's analysis on Argentine Odyssey aired on LN+ on April 7, 2025.

Mauricio Macri and Javier Milei failed to seal an electoral alliance in Buenos Aires and distanced themselves over the appointment of the Supreme Court judge promoted by the ruling party, whose nomination was rejected. Separately, following Donald Trump's tariff policies, stock markets fell in Asia, Europe, and Argentina. Macri again criticized Javier Milei, who seeks to snatch first place in Buenos Aires. At an event held in Uruguay, the former president urged compliance with the Constitution, after the current government failed in its attempt to appoint Manuel García-Mansilla and Ariel Lijo as Supreme Court justices, due to Senate rejection. "At this moment, they are discussing as equals. Milei is established nationally and polls give him 30% support throughout the country, so he feels authorized against Macri and tells him: 'I'll give you places on my list, but it goes with my brand'. Given the economic management of inflation and the approval of the people, Macri has nothing to offer," said political scientist Facundo Cruz on Cara o Ceca. As a result of the disagreement between them, they will compete with separate lists on May 18 in the Argentine capital. "What's happening in the city is interesting, because it has always had a particular political context. The PRO governed for a long time and ended up nationalizing its party in that district. Now, with the early elections, the model that the city has today at the national level is being discussed more. Before, the debate was more local, separate from what was happening in the rest of the country." "There is a change in the behavior of the electorate. Today they have people who will vote for Peronism, which arrives unified, and others for Macrismo, which has three options," he added. World markets fall after new Trump tariff policies The main stock markets in Asia and Europe registered sharp falls this Monday amid fears of a large-scale recession, caused by the new tariffs imposed by the United States on its main partners. The reaction of investors was immediate and widespread, with historical collapses in the markets. "It is a scenario that is telling us that there is a more recessive, or less expansive, and more inflationary period, and that is why the stock markets are reacting negatively. That situation may or may not improve depending on whether Trump sits down to negotiate with the leaders of all countries," Gabriel Rubinstein, former Secretary of Economic Policy of Argentina, told Cara o Ceca. "This reaction is not only because of the tariffs he imposed, but also because of the changes at a geopolitical level," he added. "Trump feels dissatisfied with the functioning of the world economy and is wanting to rethink globalization, in new terms," he concluded.

In an unprecedented institutional setback, the Argentine Senate rejected President Javier Milei's decrees appointing two new Supreme Court justices. Separately, China will impose 34% tariffs on US imports in retaliation for Trump's economic measures. Ariel Lijo's nomination was rejected by 43 votes to 27, while Manuel García-Mansilla's received 51 rejections and only 20 approvals. Both had been appointed bypassing Congress because the Executive branch could not muster the required two-thirds majority in the Senate. "Without the appointment of these two judges, the 'impunity' pact made by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner [former Vice President of the Nation] and Santiago Caputo [advisor to Javier Milei] to bring Lijo to the Court fell apart; they sought to delegitimize the Supreme Court," said Francisco Paoltroni, senator from Libertad, Trabajo y Progreso, former member of La Libertad Avanza, on Cara o ceca. The senator suggested that Judge García-Mansilla remain in his position until the expiration of the term of the Decree that appointed him, despite the Senate's resolution. "The best thing for institutionality is for him to remain as a member until November 30. It is more intelligent to move forward with a new nomination to complete the five judges that we must have on the highest court," he continued. "La Libertad Avanza has projects that can be approved and others that cannot. But lately there is an accumulation of errors that undermine the credibility of the presidential word. That is why I have been moving away from the bloc, because there were things that were promised or advocated for, which are not being fulfilled today," he concluded. China's Harsh Response to Trump's Tariffs President Xi Jinping announced 34% tariffs on all imports of goods from the United States starting April 10 in response to Washington's tariffs on Chinese products. "Unlike what had happened in his first term, Trump wants to stop China's economic rise in a 2.0 manner, accelerating the times and being very intense in the way he provokes," said Gustavo Girado, Master in International Relations and director of the postgraduate program on China at the University of Lanús, on Cara o ceca. "Asian countries protected themselves in time from these measures because they saw them coming. In particular, China did so by restricting exports to the US of a series of products that are extremely important for making high-tech manufactures," he added. "China is part of the chip industry, today vital for the functioning of the technological world. With these restrictions, it attacked Trump where it can hurt him the most. In addition, China sells more to the US than it buys," he concluded.

The power struggle between former Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof is embodied in defining the date of the provincial elections. Separately, migration through the Darién Gap, the border crossing between Panama and Colombia, registered a historical decrease of 96% after Trump's policies. Kirchnerism seeks to impose in the Provincial Chamber of Deputies its project to suspend the Open, Simultaneous, and Mandatory Primaries (PASO), which would set the election date on the same day as the general elections on October 26. In parallel, Kicillof will lead an event in the capital, La Plata, surrounded by mayors who support the split. "What happened is that the national government changed the voting system with the single ballot. You would vote, on the same day, in two different ways: the provincial ones with the classic ballot and the general ones in the new form imposed by the Executive. It would be a 30-hour day, it is not viable," said Juan Marino, national deputy of Unión por la Patria, close to the governor, in Cara o ceca. "The Constitution of the province gives the governor the power to choose the date, these are legitimate elections," he added. "If there is no large opposition front at the national level against the Milei government, it makes sense to split the provincial elections as a tactical measure to defend the conquered positions and think about an alliance for the 2027 presidential elections," he concluded. Migration through the Darién Gap, the border crossing between Panama and Colombia, registered a historical decrease of 96%. In the first two months of 2025, only 2,637 migrants passed through this route, compared to 72,294 in the same period in 2024, according to data from the Colombian Ombudsman's Office. The decrease in flow is due to various factors, such as the new migration policies implemented by the United States Government, Executive Decree 194 of 2024 issued by the Panamanian authorities, which economically sanctions irregular migrants in the country, and the agreement between the United States and Panama for the deportation of migrants. "We have many people who seek to emigrate to the United States through Panama. With the assumption of José Mulino [Panamanian president], who is at the service of the North Americans, an agreement was signed to block the Darién border. Migrants began to be persecuted, they were not allowed to enter and many people died," said Saúl Méndez, general secretary of the Single National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) of Panama, in Cara o ceca. In turn, the union leader explained that around 300 people were deported from the US to Panama. "They arrived in inhospitable conditions. They were not even allowed to communicate with their families. When it was publicly denounced, Mulino decided to send these people to the Darién again. It was due to international pressure that they were given a place to be," he added.

April 2nd is "Liberation Day," according to the US president, when tariff increases will take effect. Separately, Argentina commemorated Veterans and Fallen in the Falklands War Day, the war with the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the islands, which lasted ten weeks in 1982. Two months after taking office, Donald Trump prepared to intensify the trade war with new tariffs that will mark the beginning of a "golden age" for the United States, he announced. "The ruling party believes that 600 billion dollars will come in immediately. But in reality, this already happened in 1890 with William Mckinley [twenty-fifth president of the United States] which led to a tremendous economic crisis," said Mauricio Zabalza, a journalist in the United States, on Heads or Tails. "This is going to be a big problem because the US has products from all over the world. There is a lot of concern, especially on Wall Street, which has been down for a while, not only because of this measure, but also because of others that are collateral to trade," he added. 43 years after the Falklands War: "The superiority of the British lay in their navy and air force" Veterans and Fallen in the Falklands War Day was commemorated, the war with the United Kingdom that lasted ten weeks in 1982 and left a total of 649 Argentine soldiers dead. At the event, Javier Milei said a phrase that was quickly questioned: "If it is a matter of sovereignty over the Falklands, we make it clear that the most important vote of all is the one that is made with the feet and we long for the Falkland Islanders to someday vote for us with their feet. That is why we seek to be a power, to the point that they prefer to be Argentines, that it is not necessary to use dissuasion or persuasion to achieve it." The phrase opens the possibility that the inhabitants of the Falklands vote, contradicting the Argentine institutional policy of demanding sovereignty over the islands. César Trejo, a former Falklands combatant and director of the Falklands Observatory of the National University of Lanús, recalled the conflict on Heads or Tails. "The Argentine soldiers who had traveled to the Falklands thought they were going to recover the island and not a war. What's more, it was believed that the United States was going to act as a mediator. Nobody knew what was really happening there," he commented. "There was a lot of precariousness. We didn't have much weaponry. The superiority of the British lay in their navy and air force," he added. "Despite the technological gaps we had, they did not believe that they would suffer so much damage to their fleet. The commander of the British Task Force, Sandy Woodward, said that they were about to plant a white flag," he explained. "It is important to remember this date to understand the present and think about the future," he concluded.

Former President Mauricio Macri harshly criticized close leaders who presented lists in Buenos Aires for legislative elections, vying for power with Propuesta Republicana (PRO), governing for 18 years. Separately, the Italian government limited citizenship rights. The PRO leader said his intentions to form an alliance with Javier Milei's ruling La Libertad Avanza party were thwarted by the president's sister, Karina, who blocked that possibility to compete for power in Buenos Aires, whose local elections will be on May 18, and also flex political muscle ahead of the national elections in October. "The city is falling: I see it dirtier since Jorge Macri [Mauricio's cousin and current head of government] took office. Residents' complaints are not prioritized. There is more garbage and more insecurity. There must be an efficient State and not generate expenses in political structures. We must reduce political spending, reduce taxes, and improve district management. We have an enormous infrastructure that is not efficient," said Silvia Imas, legislator of Buenos Aires for La Libertad Avanza. "If so many forces are running for this election of legislators, it is because everyone perceives the need for change in the city. We must do the same as is being done in the nation. One of the things missing is the system of alerts to cell phones, through an antenna, in the face of an imminent meteorological event. It is a project that I have been proposing," she added. "I do not agree with Mauricio Macri when he says that Karina Milei [Secretary General of the Presidency] wants to go against PRO and more in the city. It is a phrase that does not contribute. He should promote spaces for dialogue," she concluded. The Italian Government Restricts Citizenship by Right of Blood Italian President Giorgia Meloni limited the acquisition of citizenship by descent, based on significant changes in naturalization by right of blood. From now on, only those who have at least one family member of the first or second generation born in that country can complete the process. "Previously, the legislation allowed that, if you had a family member born from 1870 onwards, you could build the family tree until you reached yourself to obtain citizenship. It began to happen that many law firms abused people and processed it at high costs. In turn, the Government did not send many agents to the consulates and did not reach the demand. Restrictive measures were taken until reaching Friday's," said Franco Tirelli, Italian deputy for the Associative Movement Italians Abroad. "Those who have started the citizenship process until March 28 inclusive, will not have problems and it will continue to develop normally," he added. "Meloni is concerned about the entry of foreigners. We saw it when she tried to agree with Albania to shelter the undocumented and initiate a trial in that country. Finally, the European Union rejected it and could not solve the problem of illegals arriving in boats," she concluded.

Carlos Pagni's analysis on Argentine Odyssey aired on LN+ on March 31, 2025.

Buenos Aires became a focus of national politics, with legislative elections on May 18, in a fragmented scenario with 17 lists. Separately, French politician Marine Le Pen was convicted of corruption and banned from holding public office for five years. This Sunday the 30th, the lists of candidates for legislator of the city of Buenos Aires were closed, a district governed by Republican Proposal (PRO) for 18 years, but whose hegemony is at risk due to the fracture of local alliances and the nationalization of these elections. La Libertad Avanza nominated the presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni, and the party allied to the Government, Movement of Integration and Development (MID), a former soccer coach, Ricardo Caruso Lombardi, to face the party of former President Mauricio Macri. "The city of Buenos Aires has already gone to the B [relegated]. I aim to make a good election, because there is a good work team. Oscar Zago [president of the MID] told me to go forward. I had already participated politically to be part of the union of technical directors with many situations that I denounced. Now what I want is to lend an ear to the people of Buenos Aires. I don't need anything, I'm not going to live off the State, I want people to be able to say what they feel," Ricardo Caruso Lombardi said in Cara o Ceca. "I know the other candidates don't like me because they know I can reach people," he added. "I never felt fully represented by a political space. What interests me is that the politician in office does things well. Milei came to power because Argentines were tired of this kind of people," he concluded. Le Pen was convicted of corruption. The Paris Criminal Court convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement of European Union funds. She was banned for five years from holding public office and sentenced to four years in prison, two of which she will serve on probation. In addition, she was fined 100,000 euros. "The decision of the Justice is wrong and should not decide how to do politics. The European Parliament is not a technical office. Le Pen is condemned for having European deputies and parliamentary assistants who had carried out political activities in France, when in reality all politicians do that," said Romain Mingus, a French journalist, in Cara o Ceca. “With this decision we see that opponents of the current neoliberal system are being taken out of the political game,” he added.

March 30th Buenos Aires City election lists close, major parties focus on this district. Milei announced presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni as his main candidate. Separately, amidst Europe's rearmament, Spain supported a European Army's creation. Argentina's capital votes May 18th to define its local legislature's new composition, a nationally significant election. Major political groups designate leaders to compete in the country's wealthiest district. Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni's designation as Milei's candidate ruled out an electoral alliance with PRO, which supports the national government and governs the City since 2007. "Buenos Aires City is the country's capital, representing 7% of national voters. This election is notable because many competing figures have national projection," said political analyst Gustavo Marangoni on Cara o ceca. "Jorge Macri [City's Head of Government] will find controlling the Legislature harder than the past two years. PRO won't govern the City with the comfort of the previous 18 years. With three dominant forces, it will be more difficult, as polls don't indicate his preponderance," he added. Spain supported creating a European Army and announced a national plan to boost the defense industry. Spanish President Pedro Sánchez proposed a European Army of the 27 EU member states' armed forces. He also proposed developing a common European security and defense policy with unique financing instruments, as done during the pandemic with sanitary material. "Sánchez's proposal received much criticism from other countries because they think it's a very advanced step, where it's already proven difficult. Technically, the armaments and logistics of different armies are very incompatible," commented Adrián Zelaia, geopolitical analyst and director of EKAI Group, on Cara o ceca. "Europe debates its security because it needs to increase the defense budget to face a possible threat within five years. But they also raise it because there is political nervousness in the European elite due to Russia's possible victory in the conflict with Ukraine and the advancement of Trumpism," he added.