Sunrise Over Rio de la Plata
A beautiful sunrise over the Rio de la Plata (River Plate)
Motorcycle Trip – Buenos Aires To La Cumbre, Cordoba – Part Two
Behind the curtains
Having been informed that dinner would be served after eight thirty in the dining room behind the mysterious curtains, I was curious as to what lay behind them, because the entire hotel had a kind of Dr Who Tardis feel to it, in that it was so much larger inside than what it seemed from the outside.
Motorcycle Trip – Buenos Aires To La Cumbre, Cordoba – Part One
This trip was totally unexpected and I only went along to accompany a mate, Claudio, who is thinking of moving from Buenos Aires to La Cumbre. I mean, I couldn’t really let him ride alone, could I? It was also a great way to test out some new kit.
My Extraordinary Experiences In Argentine State Owned Banks – Part Two.
The day started very well with an appointment at ANSES (the department of social security) to start the PUAM (pension) application, but I’ll go into that in more detail in a later post.
My Extraordinary Experiences In Argentine State Owned Banks.
As part of my motorcycle courier service, I go to several banks to make payments on behalf of my main customer.
State Owned Companies Lost US$18 Billion
State Owned Companies Lost US$18 Billion During The Previous Administration
Inflation Drops To 13.2% In February
That’s a monthly rate by the way, but much improved over December 2023 which was around 25%, if we’re still counting.
Prosecutor Wants 12 Years For Ex-President, Cristina Kirchner
Prosecutor Mario Villar requested that Cristina Kirchner be sentenced to 12 years in prison for being the head of the illicit association that operated in the corruption of public works in Santa Cruz. He did so before the Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation in the case known as “Vialidad”.
Villar assured that the former president was the one who “generated the continued trickle of millions to Lázaro Báez” by signing decrees that allocated funds for public works. At the same time, he assured that “the illicit association is proven”.
This will roll on and on…
President Milei’s Chainsaw Takes Effect!
Just over two months after his stunning election win, Javier Milei is delivering exactly what he promised – more pain, high inflation, but a drastic cutting back of state spending.
We’ve yet to see a drop in inflation because January’s monthly figure of 25% is not really indicative, yet Milei himself has said that a monthly figure of 15% for February would be a major step in the right direction.
His biggest problems are revolts from the Pro party, his removal of funds from social groups, constant threats from unions, endless strikes and possible widespread social unrest. However, his popularity has dropped by at least nine points to around 48%.
More Peronist Scandals Add To Government Election Woes
The Insurralde scandal
The cabinet chief of Buenos Aires province, Martin Insurralde, resigned on Saturday after his girlfriend posted pictures on Instagram of their luxury holiday on board a yacht off Marbella, Spain. Sofia Clerici also posted pictures of gifts that Insurralde had given her including a Rolex watch, jewellery and top of the range handbags. The scandal is exacerbated by the fact that Insurralde represents one of the poorest areas of the province, La Matanza, with 40% of Argentina below the poverty line.
Provincial governor, Axel Kicillof, has tried to play down the scandal, brushing it aside as nothing more than an ethical error. However, Insurralde will have trouble justifying these expenses on a public employee’s salary, not to mention his US$20m settlement with his ex-wife, Jessica Cirio earlier this year.
Cases against for money laundering are now being presented.
Fake employees in La Plata
A man known as ‘Chocolate’ Rigau has been withdrawing cash with 48 debit cards from phantom employee bank accounts, often up to AR$1m per day and AR$30 per month in yet another corruption expose. Rigau is said to be an electrician, but no one has even see him change a light bulb.
Banco Nacion hired a ‘numbers energy creator’
Silvina Batakis, the head of Banco Nacion, a state owned bank, hired an numerologist, “Pitty”, la Numeróloga, for thousands of pesos per month, her ex husband for similar amounts and numerous other people either related distantly or friends, for thousands of dollars per month for doing nothing.
This is the extent of the endemic corruption that is so rife and practically socially and culturally accepted in Argentina over decades.