10/24/2024 - politics-and-society

"Cristina Kirchner vs. Ricardo Quintela: The Battle for Control of the PJ and Tensions with Kicillof"

By Uriel Manzo Diaz

"Cristina Kirchner vs. Ricardo Quintela: The Battle for Control of the PJ and Tensions with Kicillof"

Cristina Kirchner, Axel Kicillof and Ricardo Quintela, the trident that negotiates, separately, the unity of Peronism

The PJ, Between Cristina and Quintela

If something is clear in the current Argentine political landscape, it is that Peronism is no longer what it used to be. The Justicialist Party, once unstoppable, now wobbles under the weight of its own contradictions and miseries. And it's no surprise. With Cristina Kirchner at the helm, corruption and authoritarianism became the norm of Kirchnerism. Now, with Javier Milei in the Casa Rosada and Victoria Villarruel as vice president, the PJ faces its most complicated battle: an internal conflict that jeopardizes not only the presidency of the party but also the survival of a worn-out Peronism.

Cristina Kirchner - Ricardo Quintela

Cristina, Until When?

Cristina, in her game of victimhood and power, remains clinging to control of the PJ as one clings to a sinking kayak. The eternal leader of Kirchnerism—already convicted of corruption, although the system keeps her afloat—has once again shown her true face, calling her former protégé, the governor of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, a "traitor." Why? Simple: he did not kneel down enough before her in this internal struggle.

At this point, Cristina knows her time is limited. Kirchnerism is in free fall, and not only because of Milei's emergence. Her own party is fed up with her. Ricardo Quintela, the governor of La Rioja, has been the first to say "enough" and challenge her for the presidency of the PJ. This is the twilight of an era, and Cristina is not willing to give up power without taking everyone down with her.

 (Source: NA)


Kicillof, The Star Student

Kicillof, that eternal diligent student of Cristina, is now under the ex-president’s scrutiny for trying to maintain an image of unity within the party. Of course, the governor of Buenos Aires knows that siding with Cristina at this moment would be political suicide, but he cannot betray her openly either. Not out of loyalty, but because Kicillof is made of the same material as many other Kirchnerists: calculating, ambitious, and willing to sell any narrative just to stay in the game.

In any case, Cristina's accusation of "traitor" sounds more like a desperate gasp than a real threat. Kicillof is playing both sides: trying to save his career while the PJ crumbles, and in the process, he has gained Quintela's support, who wants to "protect" him. Protect from what? From Cristina, of course.

Quintela: The Governor Who Stood Up to Cristina

Ricardo Quintela had the "audacity" to confront Cristina in the PJ primaries, taking the step that many Peronists fear: openly challenging the ex-president. Governor of a smaller province, his figure has grown in the shadow of Kirchnerism’s internal crises. Quintela represents a sector of Peronism that no longer sees Cristina as a leader, but as a burden.

The governor of La Rioja has publicly called to "care for and protect" Kicillof, which is really a clear maneuver to gain points within a PJ that is more fragmented than ever. Confronting Cristina is not an easy task, but Quintela seems ready to bet everything in these internal elections on November 17. He knows that Kirchnerism is no longer what it was, and that many within the PJ are ready for a renewal.

ARCHIVE.- Quintela and Kicillof in La Rioja

More of the Same: The Same Old Narrative

Now, let’s be clear. Cristina, Kicillof, and Quintela are part of the same circus. All three are responsible for destroying Argentina for years, creating poverty, and leaving the country in ruins. Now they are going to pretend to fight to later unite and loot the country again, or at least try to. Same narrative, same criminals. There is no room for redemptive Peronism, only for those who have made corruption and clientelism a way of life.

While they throw darts at each other publicly, we all know that behind the scenes they are dividing the money. What we are witnessing is a power and control game, not a real dispute over the future of the country. Meanwhile, Argentines continue to pay the price of decades of looting.

Bullrich, Milei and the Right That Watches

While the PJ fights to see who gets the remnants of the shipwreck, the opposition does not miss the opportunity to highlight the internal rot of the party. Patricia Bullrich, who was one of Milei's great allies in the presidential election, did not hesitate to comment on the Peronist disaster. According to Bullrich, Javier Milei's presence has caused the PJ to lose its way. And she is not wrong.

With Milei in the presidency and a libertarian discourse that breaks with all the established norms, the PJ is more disoriented than ever. Bullrich points directly to the fact that the PJ's internal divisions are no coincidence: they are the result of a party that has never known how to adapt to the changes in the country and that now faces a leader who does not play by the same rules as before.

Patricia Bullrich, Minister of National Security, commented on the internal conflict within the PJ (Photo: NA - Damián Dopacio).

The New Order: Milei in Command

And this is where the impact of Javier Milei comes into play. The libertarian came to power promising to obliterate the old politics, and he is doing so. Milei’s presence in the presidency has forced the PJ to confront its reality: they are no longer the owners of the Argentine political stage. Milei has made it clear that the era of Peronism—at least as we knew it—has come to an end.

A PJ That is Crumbling

The Justicialist Party is in ruins. The internal elections on November 17 will not just be a fight between Cristina Kirchner and Ricardo Quintela; they will be a verdict on the future of Peronism. But at this point, does it really matter who wins? Cristina, with all her historical weight, seems more interested in destroying what remains of the party than leaving it in someone else’s hands. Quintela, for now, lacks the charisma and the ability to unite a fractured PJ.

Meanwhile, Milei and Villarruel continue with their libertarian project, pushing Peronism from the center of power in Argentina. The question remains whether the PJ can reinvent itself once more or if we are finally witnessing the twilight of the party.

Cristina Kirchner and Ricardo Quintela, candidates vying for the presidency of the PJ

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Uriel Manzo Diaz

Uriel Manzo Diaz

Hello! My name is Uriel Manzo Diaz. Currently, I am in the process of deepening my knowledge in international relations and political science, and I plan to start my studies in these fields in 2026. I am passionate about politics, education, culture, books, and international issues.

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