Argentina-Farmers throw hat in political ring.

ARGENTINA-ANOTHER FARM LEADER GOES INTO POLITICS.

Ulises Forte, the deputy-chairman of the Argentine Small Farmers Federation (FAA) yesterday confirmed he will run for senator for La Pampa province in the upcoming mid-term elections next June.

Forte will run for the local branch of the Radical Party of which he has been a member since 1983, along with former Radical Deputy Ricardo Consiglio.

"I accepted this challenge with a strong commitment to fight the Kirchners (President Cristina Fernández and her husband Néstor Kirchner, head of the Peronist party) in a bid to set up a project with progressive roots that has dialogue and consensus as its main instruments," Forte said during the ceremony in which he launched his candidacy.

The FAA has already authorized five of its board members to run as candidates for different parties in the upcoming mid-term elections, which are scheduled for June 28.

Members of other farm lobbies had also expressed their intention of running for Congress and reports had linked some of them to political parties, although Forte’s is one of the first to be fully confirmed.

Reports also said the Liaison Committee, which groups the nation’s four major farm lobbies, is encouraging farm leaders to run for candidates in a bid to set up a farm bloc in Congress.

However, the heads of the Liaison Committee will not be running as candidates themselves, despite offers by several parties.

CRA head Mario Llambías, who had been linked to the Civic Coalition, confirmed yesterday he will not be part of any list as he will seek for a third stint ahed of CRA. Llambías was expected to run with the Civic Coalition in Buenos Aires province, headed by Margarita Stolbizer.

Last week, the head of the Entre Ríos chapter of the FAA Alfredo De Angeli — one of the best-known leaders of the farm sector — said that he is considering challenging former province governor Jorge Busti who is down to head the official slate of the Peronist Party in the province. But De Angeli has said that he is waiting the FAA board to formally allow him to run before making any announcement.

De Angeli’s twin brother, Atilio, has also announced he will run for a seat in Congress for Entre Ríos province, but as a candidate of the Radical Party of which he is a member.

Forte was also a prominent farm leader during the four-month protest against the government-sponsored export duties bill last year, which was finally ruled out by Vice-President Julio Cobos in the Senate.

"Our goal is to generate an alternative to the government, which has postponed the needs of the provinces and has always chosen confrontation instead of dialogue," said Forte, who was reported to have had a strong argument with Domestic Trade Secretary Guillermo Moreno during a meeting between farm leaders and government officials in February.

"People know me for my farm struggle, but I promise the people of La Pampa I will struggle for public education, small- and medium-size companies, full employment and salaries," added the farm leader.

Forte and Consiglio will be facing Radical Senator Juan Carlos Marino at the party’s internal elections on April 26, although some reports said both slates could reach an agreement before that.

Forte’s faction has the backing of Francisco Torroba, the mayor of Santa Rosa, the provincial capital. Marino — who is seeking his re-election — meanwhile represent the largest faction of the Radical Party in the province.