A fact: Peronist party puts off Maccarone's appointment

Yesterday, the peronist Upper House put off the appointment of Roque Maccarone as president of the Central Bank. Next week, the Agreement Committee -in keeping with what was voted yesterday- will analyse the government's proposal concerning Maccarone and the directors whose appointment is not a fact yet: Cavallo's supporter Felipe Murolo and Hugo Bruzzone who is backed by the peronist party. The Alliance could not the get pending certificates approved.

The next step to be taken in Congress for the government to ratify Maccarone is a discussion on the floor. If ordinary proceeding are conducted, the situation can be solved in 15 days. Next Wednesday, Maccarone may visit the committee headed by Horacio Salazar (Peronist party-Chaco) to get his certificate approved.

•Dangerous

The senate's delay is dangerous for the ruling party. Without Congress's approval, Pou's (former president of the Central Bank) appeal to be reappointed to the post can make progress. It would be a negative sign for the markets. The only thing that can stop Pou's threat is a rejection from the judges (then he may resort to the Supreme Court) or the Upper House's approval.

Therefore, Menem's supporters and Carlos Verna (La Pampa) succeeded. Menem's followers believed that Pou's status quo should not be maintained for the time being. On the one hand, they think that the banker was removed unfairly and on the other, they do not want to help the ruling party to "politically pursue" Menem.

Verna and other lawmakers seek to include Maccarone's appointment in the discussion concerning other directors in the Central Bank. They have already noticed that the terms of directors Manuel Domper and Marcos Saúl come to an end in September. A minority of the caucus, Beatriz Raijer (Córdoba) and Augusto Alasino (Entre Ríos) did not want to pose an obstacle to Maccarone's appointment. On Wednesday, Alasino quarrelled with Carlos Corach (State minister during Menem's administration). While the latter wanted to stop help from the State House, the former said that the executive had the power to appoint the president of the Central Bank.

Yesterday, the debate brought about new struggles within the peronist caucus. Antonio Cafiero (Buenos Aires) and Héctor Maya (Entre Ríos) suggested that Constitutional Affairs, as well as the Agreement Committee, should have a say in the discussion of the proposal.

Surprisingly, Cafiero and Maya were supported by José Luis Gioja (San Juan). The UCR party was angry at this as it had urged them to vote in favour of Maccarone.

After a few minutes, Raúl Galván (UCR- La Rioja) demanded that the issue should be reconsidered. " The Agreement Committee decides whether an appointment is constitutional and therefore another committee is not necessary," said Galván. Gioja and his caucus, which have agreed on this reverse with Jorge Agúndez (UCR's head in the Upper House), put up their hands immediately and left Maya and his friends on their own.

•Operation

In this context, Cafiero defined the attitude of the peronists as "operation opposition". He spoke on behalf of a "six-member caucus". He meant the Federal Peronist headed by Maya, Jorge Villaverde (Buenos Aires) and himself. He also mentioned Daniel Varizat (Santa Cruz), Héctor Torino and Alicia Negre de Alonso ( San Luis), who usually work on their own.

Cafiero and Maya defined themselves as the "true opposition" and described the other peronist members as "Olivos caucus" due to the fact that they supposedly helped Fernando De la Rúa.