PRO presidential pre-candidate Hernán Lacunza defended the continuity of the Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries (PASO), ruled out an electoral agreement with the ruling party, and proposed completely lifting the foreign exchange restrictions, boosting construction, and reducing taxes on credit.
In a conversation with journalist Mariana Contartessi on Radio La Red, the former Minister of the Treasury argued that the primaries are part of an electoral mechanism that allows ordering the competition before a possible runoff. He also questioned the possibility of modifying the system shortly before an election: "In a soccer match, you don't change the rules in the locker room when the teams are about to take the field."
For the PRO leader, a discussion about the electoral system can take place, but it should not be applied to a contest that is already imminent. He compared that alternative to changing the rules of a match when the teams are about to take the field and called it an opportunistic decision.
Lacunza stated that the PASO allow resolving differences between proposals with affinities, while the first round and the runoff serve other functions within the electoral process. "We must let the people choose, not have the leaders handpick candidates," he said during the interview.
The economist argued that reducing the political offering to two poles benefits those who occupy those positions. As precedent, he mentioned that the e…
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The PRO presidential pre-candidate ruled out a political alliance with La Libertad Avanza for the 2027 elections. PRO presidential pre-candidate Hernán Lacunza defended the continuity of the Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries (PASO), ruled out an electoral agreement with the ruling party, and proposed completely lifting the foreign exchange restrictions, boosting construction, and reducing taxes on credit.
In a conversation with journalist Mariana Contartessi on Radio La Red, the former Minister of the Treasury argued that the primaries are part of an electoral mechanism that allows ordering the competition before a possible runoff. He also questioned the possibility of modifying the system shortly before an election: "In a soccer match, you don't change the rules in the locker room when the teams are about to take the field."
For the PRO leader, a discussion about the electoral system can take place, but it should not be applied to a contest that is already imminent. He compared that alternative to changing the rules of a match when the teams are about to take the field and called it an opportunistic decision.
Lacunza stated that the PASO allow resolving differences between proposals with affinities, while the first round and the runoff serve other functions within the electoral process. "We must let the people choose, not the leaders by appointment," he said during the interview.
The economist argued that reducing the political offering to two poles benefits those who occupy those positions. As a precedent, he mentioned that the 2023 presidential election was organized around "almost three thirds."
Asked about possible agreements with other political groups, Lacunza considered that it is still too early to settle alliances ahead of the general election planned for 2027. "It is the time to show the proposals, the ideas," he said, and maintained that the current debate should focus on governing alternatives.
Lacunza proposed reaching an agreement with the provinces to lower the taxes that make family financing more expensive. (Hernán Lacunza on X)
The pre-candidate added that he maintains a position against an alliance with La Libertad Avanza. "I will not go with the ruling party," he said. In that context, he placed Patricia Bullrich within the ruling party due to her role as president of the libertarian bloc in the Senate.
Lacunza linked that stance to his criticisms of the Government's political style. He argued that verbal aggression and insults from the State affect democratic coexistence and warned that a threat, even if expressed verbally, can seek to "silence, repress, condition" or censor.
The leader also argued that the functioning of the Justice system carries more weight than the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI) when it comes to attracting long-term projects in activities such as Vaca Muerta or mining. "For investments in Vaca Muerta or mining, the Justice system matters more than the RIGI," he said.
In his view, investors need predictability to resolve potential conflicts with the State or with private parties. Therefore, he said it is necessary to restore the prestige of an institution he considered deteriorated, with more transparent mechanisms for appointing judges and greater weight given to technical evaluations over the subjective components of interviews.
He also highlighted an agreement of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation issued in March, which proposed reducing the weighting of subjective evaluations and strengthening technical tests in selection processes.
On economic matters, Lacunza listed three measures that, according to him, could be adopted immediately. The first is to finish normalizing the foreign exchange market and lift the exchange restrictions that, in his view, discourage investment. "The first thing I would do is finish normalizing the foreign exchange market, finish lifting the cepo," he said.
The second is a program to support construction. "It is very labor intensive, it generates a lot of employment in urban areas," explained the former official, who located part of the economic and labor problems there.
As a third measure, he proposed a reduction of taxes on credit through an agreement with the governors, regardless of party affiliation. "We should not tax" credit, he said, referring to the shortage of financing and the levels of delinquency that families are experiencing.