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peppertree

(23,195 posts)
2. Santa Fe is indeed a very enigmatic province, politically
Thu Jul 8, 2021, 01:16 PM
Jul 2021

Argentina's third-largest province (around 3.5 million people), it has a diversified economy - but was historically agricultural, with its politics still dominated by small and medium landowners (which included Reutemann).

Middle-class in outlook, these smallholders are sensitive to the risk of being cheated by large landowners, banks and milling conglomerates - but are largely dismissive of the working class and the poor, and of any politician seen to represent them (i.e. Peronists, particularly Kirchnerists).

Reutemann very much represented that point of view.

Indeed, Santa Fe farmers made up most of the 1,900 or so cheated by grain exporter Vicentín during the Macri years.

The owners - led by Macri pal Alberto Padoán - apparently decided to clean their own company out (much as the S&Ls, Eastern Airlines, Circuit City, Sears, and Toys-r-Us were), and then sell it to Swiss giant Glencore - leaving over $1.3 billion in unpaid debts, between farmers, suppliers, and banks.

The Vicentín scandal, is still very much in limbo - not least because Santa Fe Province judges have gone out of their way to prevent the federal government from intervening.

And the affected farmers? They seem to prefer to kiss the money that's owed to them goodbye (nearly $400 million), before letting the government intervene on their behalf - for purely political reasons.

And Reutemann shared that kind of obtuseness. A great driver - but a mediocre "celebrity" politician in every way, sadly.

Thanks for reading and for the photos - a great teaching tool always. Have a great Weekend.

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