Buenos Aires, March 16 (NA) – Former Buenos Aires city legislator Hernán Rossi was unanimously elected this Monday as president of the Buenos Aires City chapter of the Radical Civic Union (UCR). In the party leadership, the radical leader—who replaces in the post the City's Attorney General, Martín Ocampo—will be accompanied by Juan Loupias as General Secretary, Inés Parry as first vice president, and Andrea Chavez as second vice president. Among the leaders attending the plenary where Rossi's appointment to head the city's radicalism was voted on were the president of the UCR National Committee, Leonel Chiarella, and the national deputies from Provincias Unidas, Martín Lousteau and Mariela Coletta. During his inauguration speech, Rossi stated that radicalism is facing a complex political context and warned about what he defined as an 'era of wind' that questions central democratic values. In a deep criticism of the course of Javier Milei's government, Rossi affirmed: 'There is a deep contempt for science, culture, education, the university, and public health—all values that constitute the democracy that we came to reinstate in 1983.' In his speech, the newly elected president of the UCR city chapter reclaimed Raúl Alfonsín's legacy, called for opening the party to society, and maintained that radicalism must build a democratic alternative against the extremes. 'Here, UCR militants will be fighting for the public university,' said Rossi, holding up the party's centennial historical flag. Additionally, Rossi raised the need for the party to regain political protagonism in the City, as learned from the Argentine News Agency (NA). 'This is a party that must prepare to govern the City again,' he assured, while calling on the party's membership to strengthen the party organization and territorial work. Likewise, he announced that he will promote spaces for political and programmatic debate within the party and proposed the formation of a 'shadow cabinet' to allow for analysis and close monitoring of the City's management. Among the axes of his management, Rossi anticipated that he will push for an opening of the party towards society and towards sectors that today are distant from radicalism. 'This president is going to make this party a house with open doors to listen to everyone and each one, to those inside and those outside,' he noted.
