Oh, not so much because Trump is disliked in Argentina (he is; but not as intensely as in, say, Mexico); but because it contrasts so wildly with each new awful round of economic data - to say nothing of people's own hardships.
Get a load of this one, from last week:
“President Trump expressed strong support for President Macri’s pro-growth economic agenda and the strides he has made in modernizing the Argentine economy,” Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said.
The statement, you can imagine, was cold comfort to Trump's pal Macri. I mean, I know Cheeto's people like to pretend they're in some alternate universe - but this is ridiculous.
As far as Ricardo Alfonsín, the conventional wisdom in Argentina is that, while he lacks a sufficient political base (or the kind of talent his father had) to mount a strong presidential campaign of his own, he's on the short list for running mate to a number of potential and/or declared candidates -
possibly including, if she runs, Cristina Kirchner herself.
While they've never been close, the two are not that far apart policy-wise - and Raúl Alfonsín and the Kirchners had tremendous respect for each other.
It's more likely, of course, that if he's anyone's
Número Dos, it'll be Roberto Lavagna's - who's been stuck in a distant 3rd place (15% or so), and whose chances would rise a good bit with an Alfonsín as a running mate.
But be it on Cristina's ticket (if she runs at all), Lavagna's, or someone else's, my guess is that Ricardo Alfonsín is waiting for the outcome of the May 27 UCR convention to decide.
If the UCR leadership (mostly right-wing) trumps the UCR rank-and-file (mostly centrist), Alfonsín will probably leave "Let's Change" on the spot - him and many others in the party.
The way Macri's been using them - pretty much like servants at a banquet - they should've
already, if you ask me.
As Rodney Dangerfield would no doubt put it: No respect at all.
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