Despite a top-level agreement, multiple candidate lists have emerged in several districts, potentially leading to internal elections within the Buenos Aires PJ party.
In La Plata, Argentina, despite a leadership agreement between Axel Kicillof and Máximo Kirchner for the new structure of the Buenos Aires Peronist Party (PJ), internal conflicts within the party appear to be brewing at the district level. In several municipalities, including Mar del Plata, Tigre, and Moreno, competing lists have been filed, indicating a reluctance among local leaders to consolidate behind a single candidate list despite the centralized agreement. The party's Electoral Board is tasked with validating these lists by February 21, which may lead to internal elections in approximately 30 municipalities.
Kicillof, who is set to become the new president of the Buenos Aires PJ on March 15, has not been directly involved in the party's organizational dynamics for the past six years. The anticipated shift in leadership aims to re-establish control within the party, but it seems that local factions have differing agendas, complicating this effort. The existence of alternative lists poses a challenge to Kicillof's authority and could reflect deeper divisions within the party as the old alliances are reassessed and new alignments considered.
The implications of these internal disputes are significant for the future of the Buenos Aires PJ as they could weaken the party's overall cohesion ahead of upcoming elections. If the Electoral Board allows these multiple lists, it would not only signify a fragmented party but also showcase the ongoing struggle for power within the party's ranks, particularly between the followers of Kicillof and those allied with Kirchner. This situation could ultimately affect the voters' perception of party unity and its effectiveness in addressing regional concerns as the elections approach.
