We reproduce the editorial of Alternativa Socialista No. 749, publication of the MST of Argentina.
Global Rebellion. The world is undergoing important mobilizations, popular rebellions and revolutions. In that context, our continent is one of the epicenters. With Chile as the vanguard of the confrontation with governments and regimes, struggles are reproduced in different intensities, conjunctures and formats by different countries of the region. Bolivia is another point of conflict and, although a pact between the coup plotters and the MAS of Morales has been consummated to provide the coup an “institutional” exit, the resistance does not stop. As we analyze in these pages and in the second issue of the magazine of the International Socialist League, Permanent Revolution, the basis of this situation is the dissatisfaction of millions with capitalism and the hardships to which it submits the peoples of the world.
The only truth is reality. It is in this complex international framework that Fernández is designing his cabinet and the road map he intends to follow. Beyond the illusions that he may generate in a sector, the only concrete things so far are that the names mentioned for his cabinet have a very conservative profile and what he presents as the “engines of his economic project” imply an intensification of the capitalist scheme and existing extractivism in the country. So much so that the UIA, the CGT and the most reactionary sectors of the Church have their representatives almost assured. In addition, although the bickering continues, the governors and of course Sergio Massa’s sector and some Kirchnerists will have their place. Even Marcelo Tinelli, a sort of minister without ministry, seems to be the public face of an “agreement against hunger,” a copy of the “gentlemen’s agreement” that Macri attempted with the same speculation about prices, exploiting workers and curbing their demands: capitalists and bureaucrats. Although Alberto wants to maintain expectations until December 6, the day he will announce his cabinet, surely there will be no favorable surprises for workers and popular sectors.
Pay the debt and intensify extractivism. It is no secret to anyone that Alberto has already spoken about the “engines” with which he intends to boost the economy. On the one hand, the massive development of exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons in Vaca Muerta, in a process led by Guillermo Nielsen that includes an association with private capital and the application of tax incentives and other benefits for oil companies. The person in charge of Energy would be the current official of that item in Formosa, the nuclear engineer Sergio Lanziani, a man from Rovira and an old provincial caudillo. Meanwhile in mining (how could it be otherwise?), Alberto Hensel, Uñac and Barrick Gold’s man, will be responsible. He defends the thesis that mega-mining does not pollute, of course the people of Jáchal and others in the province have a different opinion. Alberto’s sense of economic priorities is clear and his affinity to the owner of oil company General Deheza, the former Peronist senator Urquía, may be added to complete the extractive triangle of fracking, mega-mining and soy monoculture.
Friends are friends. Labor will once again have ministry status and the man preparing himself for the post is Claudio Moroni, an eternal public official since the time of Menem, who passed through all governments and has “good relations” with the union bureaucracy (any resemblance with Fernández is not a coincidence). Just knowing that this person is liked by characters like Daer or Cavallieri gives us the whole picture. He will be one of the swords of the social pact that the future government hopes to achieve for the country to avoid joining the Latin American wave of mobilizations and uprising. Seeing how the numbers of the economy coming, more than a pact, everything seems to indicate that he will need a miracle. The guy with the know-how on the subject is Gustavo Béliz, another old acquaintance of the family and a man of the Opus Dei. His last job in a government was as Ministry of Security, but now he would be in charge of the famous “modernization” of working conditions. He has already started to tour with his “technological revolution” project through different union events. Kulfas would take the Economy Ministry; World Bank man and veteran of government posts Ginés González, the Health Ministry; Cafiero as Chief of Staff and Wado de Pedro as Interior Minister, are some of the other names that appear and will be confirmed or not on December 6. But beyond one or the other, the project speaks a lot about performers and does not pre-announce anything good for workers, women and the youth.
Strengthen a unitary project of the left and prepare for what is coming. From the MST in the FIT Unidad, we prepare to intervene with strength in the political situation that will begin on December 10. While we respect the expectations that a sector of the working class may have, we have no reason to believe that a future government of the PJ will solve any of the fundamental problems of those who live from our work, who fight for legal abortion, public education and quality health care or against extractivist capitalism. Much less those who aim to recover some purchasing power in an international and national context that only promises more austerity. That is why we make a proposal: come build the MST with us and strengthen and develop the FIT Unidad. We need to strengthen a tool that serves to face what is coming and fight to turn everything around. Supporting conflicts for salary and work that will grow sooner rather than later. Calling to face the social pact and any attempt by the bureaucracy and the government to reconcile us with the bosses that have been sucking our blood. Supporting combative unionism and preparing a great day of mobilization throughout the country for a strike and national plan of struggle and a workers’ and people’s emergency program for the crisis to be paid by the IMF and corporations and not by workers.