The governor of Catamarca, Raúl Jalil, will confirm before Monday his decision to break with the Unión por la Patria (UxP) bloc and form his own bloc alongside other dialogist governors.
"Unión por la Patria is in a very difficult situation," Jalil expressed to his close advisors when explaining the reasons why he has decided to distance himself from the main opposition bloc. Sources close to the Catamarcan governor told the Argentine News Agency (NA).
Jalil confirmed to his close advisors that he will not remain in the UxP bloc, led by Germán Martínez, after December 10. This represents a major blow to Peronism, as this decision could allow the ruling coalition to become the first minority.
The departure of the Catamarcan lawmakers will leave UxP with four fewer legislators, reducing it to 93 out of the 97 it expected to have since December, as the San Luis lawmaker Jorge "Gato" Fernández has not yet confirmed if he will form his own bloc as he had anticipated in the first days of November.
This decision will allow La Libertad Avanza (LLA) to get closer to its goal of becoming the main political force in the Chamber of Deputies, as if it adds three deputies before next Tuesday, it will surpass Unión por la Patria (or Patria Force, as it could be called from December).
Why before Tuesday?
The governor of Catamarca does not have much time to communicate his decision because Tuesday is the deadline for blocs to submit a note with the names they will adopt and the number of legislators from each political force.
On Wednesday, in turn, will be the preparatory session where authorities will be elected and the deputies elected on October 26 will be sworn in.
NOW: governors are forming an inter-bloc and are they adding former libertarians?
Jalil's idea is to join the inter-bloc of dialogist governors who seek to become the third force in order to obtain a vice-presidency, seats in committees, and even one or two presidencies of the body's advisory bodies.
This inter-bloc would be made up of the three Salta legislators who answer to Governor Gustavo Sáenz; four Misioneros who report to Hugo Passalacqua and Carlos Rovira; one Neuquén legislator; three Tucumanans who have a terminal relationship with Governor Osvaldo Jaldo; the four Catamarcan legislators, and could even add six deputies from Coherence and Development, which would allow it to have 21 seats.
