Wary of a mourning President

02/11/2010

Anyone who has ever grieved the death of someone close to them will tell you the expedited nature of the process is a confusing one. The most trivial of details demand attention; time, in the short term, passes quickly, till the whirlwind abruptly stops, and life, as it’s often said, goes on.

“Take as long as you need” is what’s most often heard, but it’s clear that kneejerk empathy is insincere, because the death of one individual does not allow for much more than a temporary pause. Former President or plebian, duties await impatiently.

“I shouldn’t speak about politics, it’s not the moment to speak about political issues but rather to show solidarity with the President,” Governor of Córdoba, Juan Schiaretti was quoted imploring yesterday in a Clarín article—this despite their differences in recent years.

Of the article—I couldn’t find the author’s name, but I could picture the smile on their face as they transcribed the quotation. The possibility that Mr. and Mrs. Kircher’s battle with the media conglomerate would take a hiatus didn’t go on for much longer. In fact, it begins with speculation in the paragraph that immediately follows Schiaretti’s quotation.

It describes the “political conversations” the last Governor of Córdoba, José Manuel De La Sota had with the former President before his death—conversations that involved helping Néstor in a province that never took kindly to el kirchnerismo. It then finishes with another high profile Cordovan politician, Eduardo Mondino, describing why he won’t attend a ceremony celebrating a new model of Renault to be built in the Province’s Santa Isabel plant. He still has, he says, the same objections he always had with “the ways and methods of doing Kirchernism politics.”

The Clarín editorial board couldn’t have said it better themselves, though they’re now forced to tread lightly. But even at their most compassionate, immediately following his death, the battle lines were still clearly drawn: “the absence of the leader means a big challenge for the political plan of Kirchnerism: the former President was the principal power builder and maintained a constant relationship with government legislators, governors, government workers and mayors.”

That political plan, of course, included besieging Clarín’s independence.

So now what?

It is clear Chavismo begins and ends with one man; but what of kirchnerismo without Néstor?

Many liked to imagine the pair another Hillary and Bill Clinton—two powerful politicians with enough wind to sail their own ships. While it wove a nice narrative, I never found it all that credible.

As Clarín has acknowledged, there’s no clear course; they’ve been forced to adjust their strategy, attack with slight jabs and wait to see how their antagonist responds.

They’re wary.

The Argentine public won't respond well to those who bully a widow, even if she is the President...especially when it can be argued her husband’s death was at least partially caused by the stress that came from their battles with Clarín…

They’re wary.

Hell hath no fury...