Positions by inheritance and for relatives: Federico Sturzenegger posted a thread about privileges in public banks

The Central Bank has rehabilitated an article allowing a family member to replace a deceased employee holding a position in the entity. The re instrument of this measure that provides positions by inheritance developed a strong controversy this Tuesday. One who presented himself in an extensive Twitter thread was Federico Sturzenegger, former president of BCRA, who recounted details and betrayals of his time in public banking.

“While putting together a discussion on the topic of getting relatives to the Central Bank, it seemed to me worth telling the story. It allows us to reflect on how difficult it is. fight for privileges but also about why it’s important to do it, “began Sturzenegger, who headed BCRA between December 2015 and June 2018. And he continued the Twitter crutch:” I open a thread. “

After checking a background at Banco Ciudad, where he was the head from 2008 to 2013, he came to the difficult issue of Central.

“Had written rules who was forced to take a relative of the deceased. In the Nation it is worse, 30% of income needs family members, ”he highlighted the scenario he experienced at BCRA, which he reached at the beginning of Mauricio Macri’s presidential term.

When an employee died of Central the problem exploded, aggravated because “the Internal Commission had guaranteed employment to the spouse of the deceased employee and the man had quit his job for 30 years“.

“I am I fought back to prove the privilege, ”Sturzenegger said.

And then Christine Lagarde fell

In his thread, the economist recalled the unusual extent of the tension situation in La Bancaria. There he described the almost surreal scene he encountered Christine Lagarde, then head of the International Monetary Fund.

“To be able to have lunch you have to go through the protest area. quite scared, but I explained that they were not protesting about him but about this issue. greeted them and left greeted by an applause of drums and cymbals“, he wrote on his Twitter account.

Faced with obstacles to resolving the conflict, he sent the file to Bernardo Saravia Frías, then Treasury attorney. “He decided the standard was clearly unconstitutional“said Sturzenegger.

“With that decision I abolished the privilege regime. Soon, Macri issued an ordinance extending the ban on hiring family members throughout the administration, “he said. And he took the opportunity to point out the current President:” I understand that Alberto Fernández repealed it to the first day of this government. . seems indifferent“.

And he lamented: “A few months (after) I left Central, I think the person who caused the controversy. is included“.

Already at the end of his thread, he pondered the matter.

“It is difficult to fight for interests the costs are obvious and the benefits are very pervasive. A lot of times you stand up for someone without that person knowing you’re doing it, ”Sturzenegger said.

“Personally, these struggles are more expensive than useful. That is why management needs people with strong beliefs and healthy values. If not, leave the first corner. But it is important to fight these battles if we are to build a more just society, ”the former BCRA leader said.

He ended the conversation “kiosk” and “privileges”.

“Privileges are not just for those allocated State positions. They spread everywhere. For decades Prisma had a monopoly that required management like ours to break, ”Sturzenegger said.

“Privileges are everywhere. Argentina is a collection of kiosks. These interests preclude any possibility of change. Until one day someone comes who wants to disarm them and society supports the building of a society without privileges. Let’s see, “he said while looking to the future.

What happened to City Bank

In his first messages, Sturzenegger recalled the first conflict of its kind he went through in his career as a leader. This is at City Bank. “High salary reserved for daughters by employees and/or recommended about politics. We implemented a system with open calls, first academic performance filter, second UBA exam filter. From that pool we chose from public schools, ”he said.

He said that at the time there are 24 stops “against meritocratic income”.

“Externally, the protests are against the macrista organization. Internally, they are for the rights of our sons and daughters. The battle is wide, leading to physical aggression“, he recalled using a video in which a high caliber of discussion was seen at a meeting with the banking entity.

The union called for an indefinite strike. “But we did not back down because we knew we did not want a privileged bank. The Assembly of Year 13that has inherited titles were removedset the course for us, ”Sturzenegger said.

“In the midst of the conflict, we decided to discount the days of unemployment and use the money to buy X-ray equipment for public hospitals in the City of Buenos Aires. What people own goes back to people, we say. The strike was called off and discontinued. Today, it is still the bank entry system, “the former national deputy recalled.

DS