Following the government’s denial of an alleged “pesification” of contracts and debts in the draft code reform, the head of the bloc of deputies, Agustín Rossi, clarified that Argentines “will be able to continue depositing and drawing up contracts in dollars.”

Speaking to radio La Red, the national legislator stated that “the Argentine peso is being put forward as the legal currency.” But reiterated that peso use will not be obligatory.

Rossi added that “in the case that the conditions of both parties were not clear for the two actors involved in a contract, they could apply the Civil Code. But when everything is explicitly outlined in the contract, there should not be any problems.”

The deputy confirmed, however, that the Executive has expressed the need to start thinking in pesos because “the country is in a position to implement this challenge that is profoundly cultural” so that “Argentina will think more in pesos than dollars and that the dollar will remain as the transactional commercial currency or for those who need it to travel abroad.”

Rossi confirmed that the official line is “that we want savings to be in the national currency.”

The leader of deputies of the Frente para la Victoria party, Augustin Rossi, stated today that the re-election of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is “not on the agenda” but that discussion on the issue would be “healthy.”

In the run up to the 20^th anniversary of the 1994 constitution, Rossi stated today that it is “reasonable that experts reflects on a new Constitution, after 20 years.”

The leader did not, however, mention a rumoured change in the Argentine constitution specifically, which would allow President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to run for a third consecutive term.

Elsewhere, Kirchnerite deputy Diana Conti reiterated yesterday that she would be in favour of seeing a reform in the Constitution, and that the president “made the decision” to run again for presidency.

Although supported by some, the proposal for a change in the Constitution has not been accepted by all Kirchner deputies, and remains a controversial issue.

The candidate for governor of Santa Fe said today that the President’s visit has given him “much confidence”. He said that he is now “confident” about next Sunday’s elections.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner arrived in the province yesterday. She visited Puerto San Martín to open a new biodiesel plant. The presence of Rossi alongside her on the visit undoubtedly gave him a strong political boost.

The elections in the province mark an important indicator of how President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner will do in the national elections later this year. Rossi argued that Sunday’s elections are “provincial and national in character”. Later it was added that the “national presence is a necessary presence to include in the debate in the province of Santa Fe.”

Yesterday the province of Santa Fe celebrated its first open, simultaneous and compulsory primary elections. Citizens chose not only gubernatorial candidates, but also legislative, council and quartermaster candidates.

It was a day of novelties, topped by the debut of the electronic ballot, that saw provincial governor Hermes Binner’s candidate, Antonio Bonfatti , officially become a gubernatorial candidate for the Progressive Front. The City of Santa Fé’s mayor Mario Barletta was also a winner and will represent the radical front, while representative Agustín Rossi will be the ruling party’s candidate.

Rossi explained that his formula “came first amongst all of the other candidates competing during this elections”, while he expressed his confidence in reaffirming his candidacy with more votes.

However, the biggest surprise came with comedian Miguel Del Sel’s victory for Pro party.  The triumphant political debut of Del Sel was acknowledged by Pro party leader, City of Buenos Aires’ mayor Mauricio Macri, who personally travelled to Santa Fé to greet his candidate. Pro party’s formula came third in the elections.

Del Sel pointed out that, while he did not have any rivals amongst Pro party’s members to dispute the gubernatorial candidacy, the people’s acceptance was “remarkable”. And he argued “I know I was right to choose this path”.

Yesterday’s primary elections results will greatly influence potential alliances for general elections in October.

Electronic ballots were implemented for the first time in the province. Santa Fé’s government praised its use on the grounds of its transparency and accuracy. However,the size of the ballot, which included all the candidates by their names, their parties and even a picture of them, packed the polls early.

The issue was settled, at first, with a simple yet precarious solution: authorities, ruler in hand, pushed the ballot into the ballot box to get more space. Later came a more formal, though not less controversial, resolution. The electoral tribunal authorized to open ballot boxes to accommodate votes in order to make more space for further ballots.

Minister Alejandro Rossi has called on the 92-year-old Supreme Court judge Carlos Fayt to step down, saying that his presence on the court was illegitimate, due to the fact that he has passed the normal age limit of 75 years. This is the second time that a minister in support of President Kirchner has called for Fayt to step down in two days. Speaking to Radio del Plata yesterday, MP Carlos Kunkel also complained that Supreme Court judges are ignoring a constitutional reform passed in 1994, which prohibits them from serving when there are over 75 years old.

Kunkel stated yesterday: “there are 15 judges who are over 75 and won’t step down.” The minister declared: “the National Constitution, according to the amendments of 1994 says clearly that at 75 (judges) have to retire.”

However, Argentine Daily Clarín disputes this statement, saying that article 99, section 4, paragraph three on the Constitution does not state that judges have to retire at 75. Rather, when they reach this age they need to be confirmed again by the senate. Fayt has been allowed to continue in his role because of a judgement in his favour in 1994.

Government minister Rossi criticised over-age judges harshly for not allowing the judiciary to renew itself: “Power has to be allowed to breath,” he told Clarín. He implied that the actions of the judges where unfair to the rest of the legal system, saying: “what would all these civil servants, academics, employees of the court or lawyers think, if the judges stay in their positions to the point that they only come out when they’re dead?” Moreover, he accused the judiciary of more general self-interest: “the Constitution says that we’re all equal before the law, but despite this, judges have decided that they don’t have to pay expenses.”

The constitutional amendment that obliges judges to be reconfirmed at the age of 75 is currently disputed, as some magistrates say that it is invalid, while others choose to comply. At present judges can serve for their whole life (or at least up to 75 years) so long as they do not directly abuse their powers or commit a crime.

Rossi has previously called for the amendment to be obeyed and even extended so that all Supreme Court judges are evaluated by the senate every four years. However, the opposition has protested that this would be a violation of judicial independence.

Speaking to the paper La Nación, president of the Association of Magistrates Ricardo Recondo criticised the statements of pro-Kirchner officials regarding the judiciary. “This is another way to pressure judges,” he stated. “It’s important that experienced judges carry on working… It’s true that there is a clause in the constitution, but there are clauses that (government ministers) don’t respect. And Fayt won a favourable judgement in court. That’s jurisprudence.”