Sergio Massa confirmed part of his cabinet and failed to add top figures

Sergio Massa, via Twitter, has nominated the economic team that will accompany him starting this Wednesday in which he will be sworn in. in the last few hours confirmed 10 charges in strategic areas within the super-ministry of Economy, Productive Development and Agriculture. It is, in some cases, famous people, such as Daniel Marx. But he still could not clear up the uncertainty surrounding other key positions, as yet undefined.

The main reason for the delay in announcing, for example, who will occupy the Secretariat of Economic Policy, a role equivalent to that of Deputy Minister of Economy, would be the difficulties in obtaining high-profile candidates and macroeconomists, something similar to what happened to Silvina Batakis. This position would have been offered to the current INDEC manager, Marco Lavagna, who I refuse it, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations.

The second hot iron is the Central Bank. Massa has appointed this Monday a Lisandro Cleri as vice president of the institution, without specifying whether Miguel Pesce will continue to drive. This movement has been interpreted in the city as an endorsement of the continuity of the head of the BCRA, as requested by Alberto Fernández. But close to Massa they say that he began to pass his “discount time” one of the last survivors of albertism in the economic cabinet.

Cleri is expected face the tug-of-war against a sharp devaluation from the money tablea push button panel that Martín Guzmán he could never touch due to the Fish block. The massist official was deputy executive director of ANSES Guarantee and Sustainability Fund (FGS) operations, advised Guzmán in debt restructuring and he was second to Guillermo Nielsen, when he held the Finance Secretariat with Roberto Lavagna.

The former Minister of Economy met the Tigrese on Friday and recommended doing so Leonardo Madcur, who already holds the position of head of the Councilors of the Ministry. The San Juan attorney was part of Blackboard’s team with Duhalde and Kirchner, from where he played a pivotal role in negotiating foreign debt; he assisted Domingo Cavallo’s teams in 2000 through the Mediterranean Foundation; and helped Lavagna in his latest campaign.

The debt offers in pesos will continue to be carried out by the secretary of finance, Eduardo Setti, a massist who worked with Cleri in the FGS of ANSES. In July Setti covered maturities and captured extra funds of $ 318,000 million thanks to a bond swap, a sharp rise in interest rates (6.5 percentage points) and CER securities, which triggered the financial crisis. He will be accompanied by Leandro Toriano, Natalia Capurso and Celeste Izquierdo.

The third important position is that of Secretary of the Treasury. After being displaced following Guzmán’s resignation, Raúl Rigo will once again manage the area responsible for allocating income and expenses. Rigo has worked in the portfolio since 1992, going through various managements. The question is whether it will have enough support. “The problem is that they have to give them a guarantee to meet the demands for higher spending by governors and areas,” said a former minister of economy.

He will be accompanied by Jorge Domper as Undersecretary for Budget and Claudia Balestrini as Undersecretary for Public Revenue.

Likewise, Daniel Marx will integrate as an advisor the committee for the development of the capital market and the monitoring of public debt, an initiative promoted by Batakis. Marx negotiated the debt several times, was a member of Cavallo’s team and advised Guzmán at the time. As reported by Clarín, Massa tries to obtain a loan (repo) from foreign sovereign wealth funds and financial institutions to increase reserves.

The manager of BICE, on the other hand, Jose Ignacio de Mendiguren, met this Monday with Daniel Scioli to make the switch and take charge of the Production Secretariat, a position he had already held with Duhalde. Economist Matías Tombolini will be the Secretary of Internal Trade and the former head of the Agricultural Federation, Jorge Solmi, could join the Secretary of Agriculture, in place of Gabriel Delgado, who will now fill the role of chief advisor.

The ruling coalition partner also maintains contact with half a dozen experienced economists. This is the case of Miguel Peirano, Martín Redrado, Emmanuel Álvarez Agis, Diego Bossio and Roberto Lavagna, among others. But None of them are on your team.. “If you catch someone right away, you become an enemy for many people, and nobody wants him,” said a source who came to Massa.