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Tax cuts, a rise in the minimum wage, freezing of the price of gasoline ... In the face of the economic crisis affecting Argentina, the government has announced a series of measures in favor of purchasing power. Announcements that occur a few days after the symbolic defeat of President Mauricio Macri in the mandatory primary elections. He has only two months left until the October 27th election to raise the bar. How do the inhabitants of the capital perceive these new measures?
With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Aude Villiers-Moriamé
At the wheel of his black and yellow taxi, Juan Iglesias Davila is waiting for potential customers. This Argentine of about fifty years was not convinced by the announcements of President Macri . " It's makeup ... it's only for winning votes. The gas price freeze for 90 days, yes, that will help me, but after that, how much will the gasoline be worth? We must think about the future! He says.
Lucila Rosi, lawyer, is more measured. She believes that these measures, which include abolishing taxes on sales of certain food products, tax cuts and extraordinary allowances for the most vulnerable families, can help Argentines. " I think it can bring some peace to people with moderate incomes. Well, it will not be enough to offset inflation because of the devaluation of the peso, but I think it's better to have taken these measures than to have done nothing! She concedes.
The peso lost 25% of its value against the dollars
Earlier this week, the peso, the Argentine currency, lost up to 25% of its value against the dollar, before recovering Thursday, August 15. Financial circles, more inclined to support Mauricio Macri , are worried about his likely defeat in October against opposition candidate Alberto Fernández.
The Argentine president obtained 32% of the votes on Sunday, in the compulsory primaries for all parties, against 47% of the votes for Alberto Fernández, at the head of a broad coalition of center left. The latter is running in the elections of 27 October in duet with the former president Cristina Kirchner (2007-2015), candidate for the post of vice-president.
Inflation over 50%
Despite the difficulties experienced since the beginning of last year's economic and social crisis in Argentina, Graciela Sardi, a retired woman, continues to support Macri. " I had a lot of hope when he was elected, but he inherited a destroyed country, so he did what he could. We are going through a difficult period, my husband owns a small business, he has had a lot of difficulties, but we have to move forward, and it is not with populism that we will move forward, "she explains.
Due to the sharp devaluation of the peso this week, the inflation rate is expected to exceed 50% this year in Argentina.