Weekly Report - 10 December 2020 (WR-20-49)

It has been a roller-coaster first year in office for Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández. While Fernández started his presidency with high approval ratings and plaudits for his declared intention to diminish the political polarisation in the country by building a consensus with the political opposition over how to resolve the country’s extended economic crisis, things have gone downhill quickly with his administration being criticised by friend and foe alike in recent months. The unilateral imposition of increasingly controversial policy measures promoted by the more radical factions of the ruling Partido Justicialista (PJ, Peronists) have led to the breakdown of relations with the opposition. Meanwhile the poor economic results and deficient handling of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic have upset many in the PJ, which is growing concerned that this could hurt the party in next year’s midterm elections.