Argentina’s economy minister resigned unexpectedly, dealing a fresh blow to the government as the country struggles with economic problems.
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Illustrating the tensions, Guzmán announced his resignation while Vice President Cristina Fernández was giving a high-profile speech in which she lambasted the government’s economic policies. The vice president, who is not related to Argentina’s leader, is a former president herself and the governing coalition has been splintering between their allies.
On Wednesday, the government said it was trying to increase the availability of diesel by allowing more biofuel to be mixed into the fuel and also by suspending the import tax on diesel.Argentina produces diesel but not in sufficient quantities for its needs and depends on imports, with world prices rising because of disruptions by the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“From the experience I’ve lived,” he wrote, “I consider it will be fundamental to work on a political agreement within the governing coalition so that the person who replaces me will have the centralized control of the necessary macroeconomic policy instruments … to face the challenges ahead.” Guzmán’s first challenge in the job, and success, was negotiating a restructuring of Argentina’s debt, and avoiding a default.