The Story Behind the Suitcase

As in every gangster story, there had to be a mysterious suitcase with an unusually large amount of money. What seemed like a routine baggage check (done to everyone who enters the country), ended with the discovery of a suitcase containing U$S 800.000 that Mr. Guido Antonini Wilson was bringing into Argentina.  Since noone is allowed to bring into the country more than U$S 10.000, the money was confiscated until the matter was settled.  And settled is one thing it was not: in fact, the suitcase affaire (locally referred to as the valijagate) might well prove to be Mrs. Kirchner's political undoing, since the money was allegedly used for dirty campaign financing (and it was recently said that it was one of many suitcases entering the country coming from the same plane, in fact, that there were other U$S 4.200.000 travelling on that plane).

It is impossible to just how worried Mrs. Kirchner is at this moment; she has proven to put up a very good poker face for some tough affairs which her administration has undergone.  Reporters are very cautious, but firmly following trails to figure out exactly where the valijagate points.  This week, Mr. Antonini will be testifying and maybe confessing some very dark secrets regarding the protection that Claudio Uberti (former Gov't staff, fired due to this affair) promised him as he was discovered at the airport.  Everything points to dealings between Venezuelan and Argentinean government and, as was mentioned, illegal campaign money.  Phone traces show that Uberti called the Olivos presidential residence several times that morning, presumably asking for instructions on how to proceed in light of the unplanned baggage discovery.  At a time of very low popularity and much public concern about inflation and insecurity, a corruption scheme like this could be the final nail on the coffin of an already (and far too early!) moribund administration.

Nestor Kirchner assumed many liberties during his term; more than the 22% vote he obtained in 2003 duly granted him.  However, there was almost no talk of corruption during his term in office, except some scattered second-rate issues (Skanska kickbacks being the most noteworthy).  Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has not been that lucky: in less than a year in office, she has had to tackle the popularity-devastating farmer tax revolt, which ended unfavorably for the government in spite of an unnecessarily long fight.  Now, the valijagate might tie in to her very campaign financing, and that may prove too strained a test for her to survive.

Argentinean citizens don´t have the same tolerance as they did in the 2003-2007 post crisis period.  How will this unfold?  Will a dirty financing scheme be uncovered and, if so, what are its implications for the President?  If Mrs Kirchner is ousted, is anyone ready to accept the responsibility and do the dirty part of the job that remains to be done (freeing markets, truing up inflation, ending insecurity, etc.)?

It's amazing how much that suitcase resembles Pandora's Box ...