The councilor from La Libertad Avanza, Ana Cantiani, presented a project in the city of Santa Fe to change the name of one of the most representative public spaces in the provincial capital.
The initiative proposes that the current Avenida Presidente Néstor Kirchner, located on the Costanera Este, be renamed Avenida Lionel Messi, in honor of the captain of the Argentine National Team and the best player in the history of football.
The proposal aims to give new meaning to one of the busiest and most touristy areas of the city, situated by the Laguna Setúbal, where locals and visitors gather daily. In this context, the councilor presented both symbolic and administrative arguments to move forward with the name change.
Ana Cantiani
“We are associating the name of a waterfront, a space meant for families, with one of the people who caused the most harm to the country. Furthermore, let’s think about the values we want to instill in our children, because we don’t understand how one of the most iconic places in Santa Fe, where our children go to share moments with family and play with friends, should bear the name of a corrupt individual,” the councilor stated while justifying the initiative.
In addition to the political questioning, Cantiani pointed out an administrative irregularity in the process by which the current name of the avenue was established. She indicated that when the name “Presidente Néstor Kirchner” was imposed, a mandatory requirement set forth in the current municipal regulations was not fulfilled.
The waterfront
According to what was presented in the project, the ordinance requires the prior intervention of the Permanent Honorary Commission responsible for advising on the naming of streets and public spaces. The absence of this administrative step constitutes one of the main arguments to promote the modification.
The initiative proposes that the stretch of Costanera Este be named after Lionel Messi as recognition of his legendary sports career and the values he represents nationally and internationally. In this sense, the proposal aims to highlight the impact of the footballer as a global figure and his symbolic connection to the country.
The waterfront
“We do not seek for this initiative to be politically associated with Leo; on the contrary, what we want is for the waterfront that is by Laguna Setúbal, one of the main tourist and recreational spots in the city, to bear the name of someone who represents the province and the country worldwide. Moreover, it is a place chosen daily by thousands of locals and visitors to our city,” concluded Ana Cantiani.
The project will now be addressed in the Municipal Council, where the justifications for the name change in one of the most emblematic spaces of Santa Fe will be evaluated.
