UIA: internal dispute over vice-president position

By Sergio Dattilo

UIA's White and Blue bloc (Celeste y Blanca) yesterday accepted José Ignacio de Mendiguren's appointment as president of the Argentine Industrial Union. Current UIA's secretary was nominated by the Industrials bloc.

However, at the time of writing this report, UIA's main leaders continued debating who is to become the secretary of the manufacturing group. This is Celeste y Blanca's turn, according to an internal agreement of rotation of power. Juan Carlos Sacco would have decided to withdraw his candidacy, according to sources close to Celeste y Blanca bloc. Secco's decision would favour the appointment of current UIA's president Miguel Acevedo Aceitera General Deheza, who has replaced outgoing Héctor Méndez since February.

But, much to the Industrials bloc's surprise, the White and Blue bloc claimed the right to appoint one of its members as first vice-president. Industrialist Luis Betnaza -Paolo Rocca's right-hand man- was expected to be designated as first vice-president.

However, Sacco brought up the internal agreement signed in 2003 that stipulated the rotation of power by shifting the positions from one sector to the other after the third term of office.


The remaining leading positions are to be designated within the next fifteen days. UIA's vicepresidents Betnaza and Adrián Kaufmann Brea (Arcor) are to represent the Industrialists bloc, as a way to prove both conglomerate companies will support De Mendiguren's administration.


If Sacco's criterion eventually prevails, Federico Nicholson (Ledesma) is to become UIA's first vice-president. This would obviously position the White and Blue bloc after De Mendiguren for the first time since the above-mentioned agreement of rotation of power was signed.


Another proposal boosted by the White and Blue bloc that was endorsed by De Mendiguren, establishes that UIA's president is to attend official ceremonies along with a representative of the other bloc. Any public statement on key issues made by the UIA chief must be previously agreed-upon in advance with the main leaders of the manufacturing group.


These negotiations delayed the planning of the homage to be paid to Héctor Mendez, whose role in UIA's new structure remains a pending decision. Some business leaders are keen to nominate him as one of the nine vice-presidents; whereas some others were only willing to designate Méndez as committeeman.


Translated by Jimena Gibert