Buenos Aires (AFP)
The center-left Peronist candidate and pollster of the October presidential polls in Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, dismissed on Thursday the risk of a default in payment if elected.
"Argentina has no chance of falling into default (of payment) if I become president.It is very harmful for a society (to know such a situation)," he said at a conference organized by the Clarin newspaper group.
Overwhelmed by two currency crises in 2018 causing Argentina's currency to lose 50% of its value, Argentina called on the IMF to rescue a loan of more than $ 57 billion in exchange for a budget austerity package . The first repayments are expected in 2021.
"Nobody can seriously consider a reduction (of the debt), because it is a debt contracted two years ago by a government democratically elected by the Argentines," he continued.
"We must withdraw from the head this idea that we will not meet our obligations.It is false and it harms the current situation," added Alberto Fernandez.
The Argentineans will go to the polls on October 27th. The center-left Peronist Alberto Fernandez is a favorite, after his wide victory in the primaries where he won 47% of the vote, far ahead of the outgoing, Mauricio Macri (32%) who seeks a second term.
In 2001, the South American country, unable to meet the repayment deadlines of its debt, had experienced the largest defaults in history and a serious economic and social crisis that had traumatized Argentines and markets.
© 2019 AFP