Vice governor of Buenos Aires province, Gabriel Mariotto confirmed today that salary and bonus payments to public employees would go ahead as planned. Speaking on La Red radio this morning, he broke his silence to set out plans for the “timely payment” of public salaries but did not confirm the receipt of $2,500 from the federal government. Mariotto responded to an article published yesterday in La Nación claiming the province was in need of urgent assistance from the federal government. He denied there were problems, stating that recent talks with economy minister, Hernan Lorenzino, had been successful and that there would not be issues with payments to the provinces.
The vice governor met with Buenos Aires governor Daniel Scioli last week to discuss the relationship between the nation and the province. Mariotto denied accusations of financial difficulties between the provincial and national governments but today re-affirmed his criticism for Scioli’s 2015 presidential campaign. Mariotto questioned Scioli’s recent meetings with the head of Argentina’s largest labour union, Hugo Moyano, and ex finance minister, Roberto Lavagna. Scioli recently played football with Moyano in a move Mariotto has branded a crucial part of his 2015 election platform.
Mariotto questioned the wisdom of Scioli’s presidential campaign in the current political context. He re-affirmed his loyalty to incumbent president Cristina Fernández and suggested that Scioli’s actions were unhelpful “in a troubled world and a country in constant tension”. “I would not have met with Moyano” he said.
Scioli is currently in Italy on a personal holiday and is due to return to Buenos Aires in four days’ time.
