The decision by Governor Axel Kicillof to split the elections in the province of Buenos Aires, setting the date for September 7, ignited a strong internal conflict within Peronism. The mayor of Quilmes, Mayra Mendoza, a close associate of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and leader of La Cámpora, harshly criticized the leader's decision and stated that it was "unilateral and completely inconsiderate."
"We were very surprised by what the governor announced because it wasn't what we had agreed on," Mendoza expressed in a conversation with radio Urbana Play.
According to her account, last Sunday the entire leadership of Unión por la Patria had met to agree on a common electoral strategy. In that context, Mendoza accused Kicillof of breaking the unity process and acting in a "whimsical" manner. She also hinted at a fracture with former President Cristina Kirchner, saying that "he will have to explain what the difference is with Cristina, who was asking for a single election."
Cristina's warning as a candidate
Mendoza recalled that Cristina Kirchner herself had left open the possibility of running if the split was realized. In subsequent statements to radio Delta, she insisted that "she will be a candidate as she already said, and within the scenario, it's healthy, it is decided with the people's choice."
Mayra Mendoza destrozó a Kicillof por la interna del PJ: “Fue una decisión unilateral”
The former president could run as a candidate for provincial legislator for the Third Electoral Section, facing structures linked to the Right to the Future Movement, such as those of Jorge Ferraresi (Avellaneda), Fernando Espinoza (La Matanza), Mario Secco (Ensenada), and Andrés Watson (Florencio Varela).
"If they have so many differences with Cristina, and they want her off the field, well, let the people choose," Mendoza warned with a defiant tone.
Kicillof justifies the split
During a press conference, Kicillof defended the measure by considering that voting for national and provincial positions on the same day "would be chaos," referring to the complexity of the electoral system and the logistical limitations of the province.
"Voting by combining two different modalities would increase the chances of a citizen not being able to translate their preference into an effective vote," argued the governor.
He also announced that he will send a project to suspend the provincial PASO, which adds more tension to the Peronist electoral setup.
Mayra Mendoza destrozó a Kicillof por la interna del PJ: “Fue una decisión unilateral”
A break in Unión por la Patria
The previous Sunday, in La Plata, a Peronist summit had taken place between Kicillof, Máximo Kirchner, and Sergio Massa, without reaching a consensus. Meanwhile, Kicillof was pushing for the split, Kirchnerism was asking for total concurrence to face Javier Milei's government at all levels, and Massa was proposing to vote for provincial positions only in November.
This dispute marks a turning point in the electoral setup of Buenos Aires Peronism and exposes deep tensions between Kicillof and the sector closest to Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
