BUENOS AIRES, July 3, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Argentine economy minister Martin
Guzman, who led debt renegotiations with the International Monetary Fund,
announced his resignation Saturday, sparking fresh uncertainty in Latin
America's third largest economy.

Guzman did not say why he resigned in his statement addressing President
Alberto Fernandez, but called on the center-left leader to mend internal
divisions so that "the next minister does not suffer" the same difficulties
he did.

"It will be essential that you work on an agreement within the ruling
coalition," he added in the statement shared on Twitter.

His resignation comes two weeks after Vice President Cristina Kirchner, a
former president who has been a constant critic of the government, gave a
speech attacking Fernandez's economic management.

Political analyst Carlos Fara told AFP that Guzman's resignation was "a check
mate for the president's autonomy" and had given Kirchner the upper hand in
their power struggle.

"The resignation will have a very bad effect in the markets. Even if the
president and vice president reach a consensus on managing the economy, from
now on everything will be conditioned by Cristina Kirchner's pressure."

As economy minister, the 39-year-old Guzman was tasked with renegotiating a
$44 billion debt with the IMF that Argentina insisted it could not afford to
repay.

The original debt of $57 billion -- the last tranche of which Fernandez
declined after succeeding his liberal predecessor Mauricio Macri, who had
solicited the loan -- was the largest ever issued by the IMF.

Despite resistance from Kirchner, Guzman managed to agree a deal and save
Argentina from defaulting.

But Guzman was often faced with hostility from the Peronist Justicialist
Party, the major force in the Frente de Todos (Everyone's Front) ruling
coalition that counts both Fernandez and Kirchner as high profile members.

Kirchner's faction has gone after Guzman ever since Everyone's Front lost
control of the senate during last year's midterm legislative elections.

The IMF deal was only ratified by parliament thanks to support from the
center-right opposition, as a group of legislators in the ruling coalition
led by the vice president's son Maximo Kirchner boycotted the vote.

- 'Growth crisis' -

Guzman said whoever replaces him will need "centralized management of the
necessary macroeconomic political instruments to consolidate the progress
made and face the challenges ahead."

While agricultural powerhouse Argentina has the third largest economy in
Latin America, it has been in economic crisis for years, with inflation of
more than 60 percent in the last 12 months.

The country was already struggling with rising poverty, unemployment and a
depreciating currency before the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated matters.

Earlier this week, Fernandez admitted the country was facing "a growth
crisis" due to a shortage of foreign exchange.

The IMF deal included provisions to contain inflation and reduce the budget
deficit from three percent in 2021 to parity by 2025.

Guzman's detractors within the ruling coalition hit out at him over perceived
excessive zeal in tackling the budget deficit and his monetary policy.

He complained several times that these criticisms sent worrying signs to
already jittery markets, making his job ever harder.

In a recent report, the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy said the
internal divisions would not be resolved any time soon.

"Infighting within the administration will continue to worsen, further
hurting the administration's ability to develop a coherent policy plan," said
Eurasia.

Although he did not reveal what his next post would be, Guzman said he would
"continue working and striving for a fairer, freer and sovereign homeland."

Fernandez has yet to comment on the resignation of Guzman, who is one of his
closest allies.