Foreign Affairs
Argentina: Where The Politicians Fight Back
Political conflict is usually quite a subdued affair in Britain. Sure, you'll occasionally catch a glimpse of John Prescott on a bitchslapping rampage, but apart from that we're simply a more restrained bunch. Nothing like Argentine First Lady Cristina Fernandez, then, who has found herself in hot water following her somewhat novel crisis tactics.
Argentina is in the middle of a tax revolt by farmers, which has left store shelves bare and put a massive dent in the country's grain exports. Residents of Buenos Aires took to the streets to stage a demonstration in support of the farmers, at which point Fernandez unveiled her secret weapon: she sent a bunch of rival prostestors to see them off.
Fernandez has enlisted a charismatic protest leader by the name of Luis D'Elia, who is presently out at street level violently 'asserting' the government's stance on things. Interesting that this a tactic never adopted by Alistair Campbell. Just think: Blair could have sent in Vinnie Jones and the Mitchell Brothers to sort out the 2000 petrol crisis, all under the guise of a scheme entitled 'New Labour, New Dialogue. With Fists.'
Most politicians would immediately distance themselves from someone perceived to be violent ... but not Fernandez. She has placed herself visibly in the background at D'Elia's speeches, nodding along as he asked farmers to 'respect public order'. Needless to say, certain factions of the media aren't particularly impressed by this whole charade.
Apart from the Daily Mail, of course. One assumes they're taking notes, ready for a Sunday editorial: 'why, oh why, can't our lily-livered MPs show this amount of backbone ...'
del.icio.us
digg
Facebook
Newsvine
reddit