Argentina: Common lists of the FIT-U in provincial elections. One step forward and several debates
BySergio Garcia
It is not a secret to anyone that the beginning of this 2023 brought us a continuity of political crisis, economic and social, now combined with the political-electoral dispute that the forces of the capitalist regime impose on the political agenda promoted by its related media, in either case.
From the anti-capitalist and socialist left, organized in the FIT-U, we are an important political and social actor and we try to dispute, in all fields of political and social struggle, to the parties of the system and their agents in unions, universities, schools and popular neighborhoods. Also in socio-environmental and gender struggles. Everything we do on a daily basis could even be much stronger if the FIT-U ever took up the challenge of becoming a common political force., of internal organized currents, that activates in unity in the fights, something much deeper than an electoral front.
We have been giving this debate from the MST and we will continue insisting towards that objective. When periods come like now, of strong electoral dispute, we intervene fully without losing sight of the strategic horizon that everything we do, including participating in elections, It is based on gaining more political weight and visibility, to strengthen the left for the struggles to come and for the political struggle for a workers' government and socialism.
The agreements reached and the progress of the MST in the FIT-U
In a year that will find us supporting and promoting different worker and popular struggles, Now we are simultaneously addressing the debates within the FIT-U on the formation of provincial lists, and starting the first debates towards the national elections. In the case of several provinces, happily, we have already agreed common lists in La Pampa, Neuquén, Black river, San Juan, and an agreement is also very advanced in La Rioja and in the city of Trelew.
in all of them, one way or another, our party makes important progress. Not without mediating strong debates in some cases, the attempt not to acknowledge the previous progress we had made, or having to accept somewhere less than what really corresponded to us, as in the list of legislators from Neuquén, where we are also part of the rotation.
Taken together these five provinces plus the city of Trelew in Chubut, the MST advances in its political position, will place the candidates for governors of San Juan and La Rioja, and leads expectable positions as deputies of the Pampa, councilors of Neuquén, deputies from Rio Negro, councilors from Bariloche and councilors from Trelew. We also head the mayor of the capital of La Rioja, the list of councilors of the capital sanjuanina and other municipalities of that province. That is to say, that even with strong debates and with some contradictions and concessions made in favor of unity, Likewise, we have managed to advance more in the sense of the reality that exists in these provinces and cities.
The upcoming debates
Another batch of provinces is beginning to debate within the FIT-U. Because it is a national and widespread party, the MST participates in almost all the provincial elections that will be held. We put all that political and militant force at our disposal to strengthen our front. from now, to be able to do it, we are fighting to overcome some of the more closed or sectarian visions that exist in the FIT-U and make it difficult to build common lists.
if there is a challenge, considering this last problem, is the case Salta, where we are facing a situation bordering on the grotesque. There the PO comrades intend to start the debate with two unrealities: ignore the very clear victory of the MST in the PASO 2021 and also ban the only leftist councilor in the entire province.
such a position, logically she is a liquidator of the FIT-U, for which we hope that colleagues reflect deeply on both issues.
On our part, we are fighting for a common list of all the FIT-U in Salta, that strengthens us as a whole to face all the bosses' parties, to defend the achieved locations in each location, including the combative Orán and to go for new deputies and leftist councilors in the province. There are conditions of political visibility for all members, but it must start from recognizing the reality that emerges from the combination of the results of the STEP 2021 and of the militant and social extension of the present, in addition to leaving aside any undemocratic attempt to ban well-known leftist fighters.
Next to Salta, debates have also begun in Mendoza and Jujuy. In the first case, We have to see if there are conditions for an agreement in a very dynamic province where the MST has been advancing and may be the second force in the front line today, having obtained more than 30% of the votes in the previous STEP. Province where there will be STEP and in any case, in the absence of an agreement, the unity of the FIT-U is guaranteed in the general elections. In the case of Jujuy, where the FIT-U comes from making a great choice in 2021 obtaining a national deputy, the companion Vilca, It is proposed to defend that political space and go for new achievements in the legislature, the councils and in the election of constituents. Our party that acts solidly from the council of Palpalá with Betina Rivero and supported in the development of our militant work there, also in the Capital and in other cities of the interior, will make its best contribution to the coming political struggle, raising the importance of the visibility of our ideas and referents in the lists to be formed.
El FIT-U, towards the national debate
Along with all this, a common list continues to be debated in Tucumán, and soon debates will begin in other very important provinces such as Córdoba with our colleague Luciana Echevarría and Santa Fe with Jime Sosa, among other early elections that will be. We will bring our proposals and pre-candidacies to each of them. In each case we will continue debating whether positions that seek to ignore our reality in each province arise again., and with clear proposals we will fight for unitary lists in all cases where possible.
parallel, the scenario develops towards the presidential elections. There is already a dispute over the magnitude of the current crisis and because there are only a few months left for the STEP. It is no coincidence then that the debates are also beginning within the FIT-U and that there are three presidential candidacies launched, of the three main front parties. Basically it is logical that given the important agreements that exist and also given the existence of nuances and differences, there are different candidacies, profiles and ideas. In our case we are proud to debate before the militancy, the vanguard and the thousands of workers and young voters of the left; the formula Cele Fierro president, Alejandro Bodart Vice. Proposal with which we also address thousands of people disappointed with the national government.
We are going to continue going through these months promoting these candidacies and our ideas. As we have publicly disseminated, we are open to discussing the possibility of a national agreement. We will soon enter this debate and make the greatest united effort. And if a common list is not achieved, there are the STEP so that the workers decide and then let's all go together to the general elections. knowing, as we have already expressed within the FIT-U, that the conditions for an agreement exist if we start by setting aside hegemonic positions, seek balance between the presidential formula, the main candidacies of Buenos Aires and CABA, plus the electoral reality and militant strength and extension throughout the AMBA. And that from all this arises the possibility of making visible the best references on the front, only way to expand our reach to millions and not limit the capacity of the FIT-U. That is the challenge.
