Cristina return may be ill-timed for Argentina's Macri

Significance

The planned protests, on the day of San Cayetano, the patron saint of employment, would have taken place just before the August 13 simultaneous open primaries (PASO) to choose candidates for the October mid-term elections, in which one-third of the Senate and half the Lower House will be up for election. Pro-Kirchner unions held rallies on Independence Day (July 9) last year which turned violent, prompting a backlash in public opinion which Fernandez de Kirchner wishes to avoid in advance of the PASO.

Impacts

• Buenos Aires province will likely have no Peronist senator from December.
• PASO voter numbers for each party will be an indicator of election results.
• Peronist presidential hopefuls will step up opposition to Macri’s agenda.