The suspension of the PASO, confirmed yesterday in the Senate, has cleared the way for Governor Axel Kicillof, who was waiting for the national scenario to be resolved in order to decide on the splitting of the midterm elections in the province of Buenos Aires.
With no excuses to delay the decision and the electoral clock ticking, Kicillof is compelled to make an urgent determination if he wishes to change the electoral rules for this year. "There are still many variables to clarify to finalize the scenario," government sources clarified.
Kicillof is pressured by his political circle and by Peronist mayors to split the elections. If he opts for this route, it is expected that it will be implemented through a bill to give legitimacy to the decision.
The suspension of the national PASO provides Kicillof with the opportunity to advance the date of the Buenos Aires elections or even postpone them to November, distancing them from the national general elections. The governor seems to lean towards advancing them to focus the campaign on management issues and avoid national polarization.
However, hardline Kirchnerism, especially Cristina and Máximo Kirchner, reject the option of advancing, accusing the governor of seeking to protect himself and disengage from the national results.
Cristina Kirchner's main concern is the representation of Peronism in the general elections, which will put 35 seats in the Chamber of Deputies from the province of Buenos Aires at stake.
Another dilemma for Kicillof is what to do with the provincial PASO and which date to choose to organize them. The PRO has presented a bill to eliminate the provincial PASO, allowing each political grouping to determine its candidates internally.
With time running out, the ball is in Kicillof's court, facing pressures and crucial decisions that will have a significant impact on his political platform.
