The governor of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, stated that «if the National Government wants to sell Aerolíneas Argentinas to a friendly group, the Province of Buenos Aires will not allow it.»
Accompanied by Vice Governor Verónica Magario, the Minister of Government Carlos Bianco, and his counterpart in Community Development, Andrés Larroque, the provincial leader argued that the Government «seems to have no interest» in addressing the national budget in Congress, «but constantly threatens» to introduce, during Extraordinary Sessions, the privatization of Aerolíneas Argentinas.
Smoke bomb
«This acts as a smoke bomb, politically speaking,» Kicillof criticized. «They won’t discuss the national budget but theoretically plan to present something they consider relevant, such as privatizing Aerolíneas Argentinas,» he added, describing the move as «deplorable and tragic.»
He recalled that the previous privatization resulted in «dismantling, liquidation, emptying, the sale of planes, loss of national and international routes, and the closure of various destinations,» which he described as «an absolute disaster.»
In the same vein, he argued that there are «several lies» about the «enormous savings the Government would allegedly achieve,» asserting that Aerolíneas «did not receive» financial assistance from the National Government last year.
Additionally, he stressed that under state management, «the fleet was renewed,» Aerolíneas joined the prestigious Sky Team alliance, and «regained its international standing,» with «21 domestic destinations served exclusively by Aerolíneas.»
«If the Government wants to liquidate it, empty it, close it, or sell it to a foreign company or a friendly group, the Province of Buenos Aires will not allow it,» the governor declared.
Attempted looting
«I believe,» he said, «that it’s worth making clear to the Argentine people that we are facing another attempt to loot Aerolíneas for unspeakable private interests (…) we are on the verge of a scam. A well-functioning airline that isn’t losing money, that connects Argentines—they want to sell it to take over the business, seize its planes, cut flights, and give the business to third parties.»
He emphasized that «the Government must abandon the excuse that nobody wants it. The province does want it. Of course, this requires a series of institutional steps. Today, it’s simply about expressing the intent and willingness to begin taking them as a province.»
Finally, he concluded: «Aerolíneas is not for sale, and neither is the homeland.»
Kicillof served as Deputy General Manager of Aerolíneas until 2011, when he took a leave of absence to assume his role in the national government as Secretary of Economic Policy and Development Planning at the Ministry of Economy and Public Finance.
