Santa Fe‘s Peronismo Plunges into Turmoil: Party Fractures Ahead of Crucial Elections
The national tensions gripping the Peronismo have trickled down to the provinces, with the legislative elections looming large. In Santa Fe, the Partido Justicialista (PJ) has crumbled due to internal warfare, characterized by resignations, cross-accusations, and recriminations.
The spark that ignited this powder keg was the constitutional reform pushed by the provincial government’s party, Unidos para Cambiar Santa Fe. Former governor Omar Perotti, despite the PJ’s stance, endorsed the initiative and used his support to secure critical votes, culminating in a historic approval at the Legislature.
The fallout from this episode has resonated nationally, with Peronist deputy Roberto Mirabella resigning from his seat in the lower house. A Perotti loyalist, Mirabella had entered parliament through an agreement with Cristina Kirchner. He left to form the "Defendamos Santa Fe" bloc, citing the "porteno agenda" focused on "outdated leaderships" among his former colleagues.
The fracturing of the PJ was on full display at a recent virtual congress, where the party attempted to iron out its electoral strategy. Instead of bridging divides, the meeting ended with the divisions laid bare. The Movement Evita, led by Senator Marcelo Lewandowski, and the Peronistas departed the meeting prematurely, while Camporistas and Kirchneristas stayed until the end.
Adding to the complexity is Santa Fe’s unique electoral calendar. In addition to electing national representatives, the province will also choose local officials and constituents to define changes to the Constitution, which has remained intact since the 1960s. This critical issue was the main point of contention within the PJ.
Since the meeting, the ripples from the crisis have extended to various fronts. Following the Zo
