Surprisingly enough, although general elections are 40 days away, there was barely any talk this Sunday of politics. Both La Nación and Clarín focused their attention on the one topic that can affect any President's well-being in Argentina: inflation. Price increases have in the past been the Achilles' heel of many presidents, and should not be overlooked as a potential make-or-
break issue. This past week Martín Redrado, President of the Central Bank, mentioned in a meeting that he has "deeply worried" about inflation. This stirred quite a reaction on the President, who reprimanded him and asked him to clarify his comment. The obedient Redrado did as asked and he said "he meant he was as worried as any other CB President is about inflation" ...
break issue. This past week Martín Redrado, President of the Central Bank, mentioned in a meeting that he has "deeply worried" about inflation. This stirred quite a reaction on the President, who reprimanded him and asked him to clarify his comment. The obedient Redrado did as asked and he said "he meant he was as worried as any other CB President is about inflation" ...La Nación chose to emphasize the interest rate increases that have taken place during the last few months (approx. +4/7%) and that makes mortgage lending an impossible activity - 10 year fixed rates jumped to approx. 17% per annum. The way the wording is built, it is meant to directly affect consumption also (adding to the inflation and making credit less available), which is the opposite of what society needs to continue stimulating private demand.
Side notes are related to sports and general news - the sports relates to the great Independiente, beating Colón de Santa Fé to reach the first standing in the Argentinean Apertura 2007 championship (until Boca also won and tied first standing). The piece of general news relates to how useful cell phones are to people (more than PCs, it appears according to a poll) and why teens go to see the doctor. Apparently, Sunday papers are running out of intersting things to say ... on to Clarín ...
Clarín decided to also showcase inflation, but on a very different note: how price increases also affect the Government's purchasing activities. If you ask me, it seems like somethig quite
irrelevant to point out, since there's absolutely nothing people can do to avoid that - and taxes are not going down anytime soon, so the real question is: who cares and, even if we do, what can we do about it?
Clarín's typical sports news showcased Independiente's victory over Colón also; showing a picture of the championship's capo cannonieri, Germán Denis, with 11 goals in 9 games.
As for side notes, they were quite irrelevant also: a short policital note about politics in Argentina (oh, that reminds me and all teh readers that general elections are less than 45 days away!): all presidential candidates were elected without primaries - an astounding fact for US citizens, maybe, very used to primaries, but not for Argentineans.
The last note talks about the average argentinean: young and with a high school diploma. At the same time, as someone in the Media Observatory presentation last Thursday pointed out, they might have described their audience.
I promise I'll do next newscast sooner!
irrelevant to point out, since there's absolutely nothing people can do to avoid that - and taxes are not going down anytime soon, so the real question is: who cares and, even if we do, what can we do about it?Clarín's typical sports news showcased Independiente's victory over Colón also; showing a picture of the championship's capo cannonieri, Germán Denis, with 11 goals in 9 games.
As for side notes, they were quite irrelevant also: a short policital note about politics in Argentina (oh, that reminds me and all teh readers that general elections are less than 45 days away!): all presidential candidates were elected without primaries - an astounding fact for US citizens, maybe, very used to primaries, but not for Argentineans.
The last note talks about the average argentinean: young and with a high school diploma. At the same time, as someone in the Media Observatory presentation last Thursday pointed out, they might have described their audience.
I promise I'll do next newscast sooner!
