Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province Sparks Controversy Over Independence Talk
Jorge D’Onofrio, a Buenos Aires province minister, has ignited a political firestorm by suggesting that Argentina’s largest region could consider independence. His remarks highlight the deepening divide between the provincial and national governments.
A Province at Odds
Argentina is no stranger to political turbulence, but recent comments by Jorge D’Onofrio, the transport minister of Buenos Aires province, have taken the country’s internal struggles to a new level. In a provocative radio interview, D’Onofrio hinted at the possibility of the province considering independence from Argentina. His remarks reflect growing tensions between Buenos Aires province, Argentina’s most prominent and wealthiest province, and the national government led by President Javier Milei.
“If the province of Buenos Aires were a state today, it would have the richest GDP in Latin America,” D’Onofrio stated during an interview with Radio Splendid. His comments quickly drew sharp reactions from across the political spectrum, with some seeing them as a severe challenge to Argentina’s federal unity and others dismissing them as political grandstanding.
Buenos Aires province, home to about 40% of the country’s population, has long been a powerhouse within Argentina, producing nearly half of the nation’s wealth. However, it has also been at odds with the Milei administration on several key issues, particularly transport policy and fiscal management. These tensions have only escalated since Milei, a right-wing libertarian, took office in 2023, leaving the left-wing Peronist factions, which still control Buenos Aires province, in disarray.
Buenos Aires vs. National Leadership
Jorge D’Onofrio’s comments mark the latest flare-up in the ongoing power struggle between Buenos Aires province and Argentina’s central government. Buenos Aires province is led by Axel Kicillof, a Peronist economist and close ally of former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. The relationship between the provincial and national governments has been tense since Milei’s election in 2023.
D’Onofrio clarified that he believes the central government’s policies are damaging the country, describing them as “madness” and accusing President Milei of dismantling the nation. His frustration reflects a broader sentiment within Buenos Aires province, where there is increasing discontent with the national government’s direction, particularly regarding economic and social policies.
Buenos Aires province is not alone in its opposition to Milei’s administration. It is one of five provinces still governed by Peronist leaders, who were left reeling after Milei’s stunning victory in 2023, which upended decades of Peronist dominance in Argentine politics. The ideological divide between the right-wing libertarian Milei and the left-wing Peronists has deepened since he took office, creating a highly polarized political landscape.
Buenos Aires’ Influence on Argentina’s Wealth
One of the critical points raised by D’Onofrio in his controversial remarks is the economic importance of Buenos Aires province. He noted that the province produces 45% of Argentina’s wealth but receives only 22% of revenue sharing from the national government. According to D’Onofrio, this imbalance forces Buenos Aires to subsidize “the inefficiency of the rest of the national state and the provinces.”
His comments underscore the province’s outsized role in Argentina’s economy. With a population of 17.5 million and a metropolitan area centered around La Plata, Buenos Aires province has long been a significant driver of the country’s economic growth. Its agricultural production, manufacturing industries, and export activities contribute significantly to Argentina’s GDP.
If Buenos Aires were an independent country, as D’Onofrio suggested, its GDP would rank among the highest in Latin America. However, while his remarks may be intended to highlight the province’s economic strength, they also reflect deep frustrations with Argentina’s federal system, in which wealthier provinces often feel forced to carry poorer regions’ financial burdens.
The suggestion of independence, though likely rhetorical, taps into a longstanding debate about how resources are distributed across Argentina’s provinces. For decades, provinces like Buenos Aires have called for a fairer system of revenue sharing, while the national government has struggled to balance competing demands from different regions.
Transport Policy: A Symbol of Provincial Defiance
A disagreement over transport policy is at the heart of the current conflict between Buenos Aires province and the national government. President Milei’s administration recently proposed plans to deregulate bus services, affecting transportation across the country. However, Kicillof and his provincial government have pushed back, with the governor making it clear that Buenos Aires province will not comply with the new regulations.
This standoff over transportation has symbolized the broader rift between Buenos Aires and the national government. For Kicillof and D’Onofrio, the proposed deregulation is another example of how the central government is enacting policies that do not serve the province’s best interests. In his interview, D’Onofrio hinted that Buenos Aires might even consider issuing its currency if tensions continue to escalate—another provocative suggestion that underscores the depth of the divide.
While such proposals may seem extreme, they reflect Buenos Aires’s frustration over what it sees as national policies that disproportionately affect its economy. The province has long been a critical hub for Argentina’s transport infrastructure, and any regulation changes could have significant ripple effects across its industries and workforce.
A Growing Rift or Political Theater?
While D’Onofrio’s comments about the potential for Buenos Aires to consider independence have sparked controversy, many political analysts believe they reflect political theater more than a genuine call for secession. As BBC reports, these remarks come in the context of a broader struggle between the Peronist-led provincial government and the Milei administration, with both sides using increasingly heated rhetoric to stake their positions.
Luciano Laspina, an Argentine Chamber of Deputies member and an ally of former President Mauricio Macri, quickly dismissed D’Onofrio’s comments as “the most ridiculous thing that has been said in years.” For many in Argentina’s political establishment, Buenos Aires breaking away from the rest of the country is unthinkable.
However, even if the idea of independence is far-fetched, the underlying issues that D’Onofrio raised—economic inequality, fiscal imbalances, and frustration with the national government—are real. The ongoing power struggle between Buenos Aires province and the central government will likely continue, with both sides digging in their heels over crucial policy issues.
For Buenos Aires, the question is how far it will go to defy the national government. While talk of independence may be a way to score political points, it also reflects a more profound dissatisfaction with Argentina’s direction under President Milei.
The controversy sparked by Jorge D’Onofrio’s comments about Buenos Aires province potentially considering independence highlights the growing tensions between Argentina’s most powerful region and the national government. As the province’s Peronist leadership continues to clash with President Milei’s administration over critical issues like economic policy and transport regulation, the rift between the two sides shows no signs of narrowing.
While the idea of Buenos Aires becoming an independent state may be more rhetorical than realistic, the underlying issues raised by D’Onofrio speak to broader frustrations within Argentina’s federal system. As Buenos Aires continues to produce nearly half of the country’s wealth but receives a disproportionately small share of revenue, the province’s leaders are increasingly vocal in their demands for a fairer distribution of resources.
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As the political struggle between Buenos Aires province and the national government unfolds, the future of Argentina’s federal unity may be at stake. With BBC following these developments closely, it remains to be seen whether Buenos Aires will find a way to resolve its differences with the Milei administration or whether the tensions will continue to escalate.
