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Argentina may change its capital city from Buenos Aires, says president | Argentina may change its capital city from Buenos Aires, says president |
(about 2 hours later) | |
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced this week she is considering a proposal from Congress to move the Argentina’s capital from Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero, the country’s oldest city. | President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced this week she is considering a proposal from Congress to move the Argentina’s capital from Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero, the country’s oldest city. |
“We should start rethinking where to place out federal capital, perhaps more in the centre of the country – and even here, in Santiago del Estero, the Mother of Argentine cities,” she said on a visit to the historic town on Tuesday. | “We should start rethinking where to place out federal capital, perhaps more in the centre of the country – and even here, in Santiago del Estero, the Mother of Argentine cities,” she said on a visit to the historic town on Tuesday. |
She added: “Sometimes we should start thinking of a new territorial design, because the world has changed.” | She added: “Sometimes we should start thinking of a new territorial design, because the world has changed.” |
The mooted move is unlikely to actually happen. It is widely considered a political stunt by Kirchner, designed to both appease the country’s provinces which have long held animosity towards the European-style city of Buenos Aires, and stave off the manoeuvring of Julián Domínguez, the leader of the lower house of Congress, who is seen to be using the idea as a presidential platform. | The mooted move is unlikely to actually happen. It is widely considered a political stunt by Kirchner, designed to both appease the country’s provinces which have long held animosity towards the European-style city of Buenos Aires, and stave off the manoeuvring of Julián Domínguez, the leader of the lower house of Congress, who is seen to be using the idea as a presidential platform. |
Santiago del Estero, located 600 miles north-west of the current capital and home to about 250,000 people, is known for its intense summer heat, and is consequently considered the country’s capital of siestas. | Santiago del Estero, located 600 miles north-west of the current capital and home to about 250,000 people, is known for its intense summer heat, and is consequently considered the country’s capital of siestas. |
Congress proposes to move the Argentina’s capital from Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero | |
The move would be seen by many in the country as the fruition of a long-held idea of relocating from the remote Buenos Aires to somewhere in the heart of the country. Mr Dominguez said it would fulfill the dream of José de San Martín, a leader in the independence struggle against Spain. | The move would be seen by many in the country as the fruition of a long-held idea of relocating from the remote Buenos Aires to somewhere in the heart of the country. Mr Dominguez said it would fulfill the dream of José de San Martín, a leader in the independence struggle against Spain. |
The current capital is known for its elegant European architecture and culture, but it is from the largely agricultural provinces where most of the country’s wealth derives. | The current capital is known for its elegant European architecture and culture, but it is from the largely agricultural provinces where most of the country’s wealth derives. |
Political analyst Carlos Germano said: “It was a symbolic declaration, nothing more.” | Political analyst Carlos Germano said: “It was a symbolic declaration, nothing more.” |
Others have been critical of Kirchner floating the idea, believing such politics as irresponsible at a time of financial crisis. “So, there’s no money to avoid the default, but there is for a Pharaonic transfer of the capital,” economist Jose Luis Espert said on Twitter. | Others have been critical of Kirchner floating the idea, believing such politics as irresponsible at a time of financial crisis. “So, there’s no money to avoid the default, but there is for a Pharaonic transfer of the capital,” economist Jose Luis Espert said on Twitter. |
Argentina defaulted on its debt last month, and there have been strikes across the country, including a 36-hour strike in Buenos Aires this week. | Argentina defaulted on its debt last month, and there have been strikes across the country, including a 36-hour strike in Buenos Aires this week. |
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