Mayor of Buenos Aires Part 1

Well the election is drawing ever nearer here for the Major of Buenos Aires (Jefe de Gobierno). Voting day is on June 3rd and the campaigns have all kicked into overdrive. Although this is only a local election there is the potential for national ramifications.
The mayor of Buenos Aires is a national figure and the post can be a springboard for a future presidential run. That is of course if the time in office was a success, which is by no means assured. The Federal Capital of Buenos Aires is a city within a city; in the States the closest comparison would be D.C. This is where all the big decisions get made for the country, the seat of the national government, the most technologically advanced area, the most populous and the wealthiest. It is home to about 3.5 million people, but it surrounded by a huge sprawl of mostly less well off Argentines totaling all together about 13 million. This election is just for the Federal Capital though and that’s what I want to talk about.
The one major difference that strikes me between campaigns here and in the U.S. is the dearth of candidates. There are literally 10 or 11 people that are running for Mayor. It’s an important position and national figures have been throwing support behind their favored candidates. Even the President, Nestor Kirchner, has stepped in on his party’s behalf. Despite the size of the field I think there are only 3 or 4 with a real shot of winning, but with that many people running you never know what the results will be.
With all the differences between Argentine and U.S. politics there seems to be one common factor, most of the politicians here are pompous assholes. I guess some things just transcend any cultural barrier. It didn’t take me long to figure this out after listening to a few of them speak or reading their platforms. They talk a lot but they aren’t saying anything. Wait a second, is that a Talking Heads lyric? I don’t remember for sure but if it is its spot on.
Not that all of the Candidates here are full of it, there are a few bright spots to speak of. One of these is Patricia Walsh, the MST candidate. I say this because the program she is advocating is a departure from traditional politics and policies. I don’t have the space to lay it all out here, but one point I find very encouraging is her willingness to listen to the people and give not only a voice in the governance of Buenos Aires, but rather the voice. The whole MST party is structured this way; it’s a bottom to top approach that is a very refreshing departure from what I am used to coming from Minnesota.