Economist.com Cities Guide: Buenos Aires Briefing - December 2005

News this month

Mayor on trial

In an historic decision on November 14th, the Buenos Aires city legislature suspended Aníbal Ibarra, the mayor, so that he can face an impeachment trial over his role in the deaths of 194 people in a nightclub fire last December. The decision was controversial, amid accusations of illicit pressure and the suspension of an initial council session after violent protests against Mr Ibarra.

Many of the victims’ families blame the mayor for the city council's inadequate enforcement of safety regulations at the República Cromañón nightclub, where the emergency doors were locked. The judge investigating the case has charged several city employees with failing to perform their duties properly. But Mr Ibarra refuses to resign, accusing his opponents of using the deaths as an excuse to overthrow his government. He has launched a campaign to build support. The mayor will receive no pay while on suspension. The trial is expected to start before the end of the year.

Violent times

George Bush's visit to Argentina in November was marked by violent protests in both Buenos Aires and the surrounding province. The American president was attending the Summit of the Americas in the city of Mar del Plata, on the Buenos Aires coast. The trouble started before he arrived, with rioters setting fire to 15 train carriages and destroying the station of Haedo in the Buenos Aires suburbs. The disturbances were ostensibly a reaction by commuters to the lamentable state of much of the capital's rail network. But the government blamed left-wing activists for leading the riots on their way to protest against Mr Bush.

The American president's arrival also saw large demonstrations, both in the capital and in Mar del Plata, where a rally was led by Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan president, and Diego Maradona, an Argentine football star. Most of those attending contented themselves with songs and banners, but small groups damaged about 50 businesses in Mar del Plata. In Buenos Aires, demonstrators attacked banks and fast-food outlets.

Turncoat

Eduardo Lorenzo Borocotó, a city-council member, provoked scandal in the run-up to the vote to suspend Mr Ibarra. He abandoned the Propuesta Repúblicana Party (PRO), which advocated the mayor’s suspension, and joined the administration led by Néstor Kirchner, Argentina's president, who has been quietly backing Mr Ibarra. In the end, Mr Borocotó still voted for suspension, but the PRO was furious. Only the previous month Mr Borocotó had won a place in the national congress as one of the party’s representatives for Buenos Aires. He defected after a meeting with Mr Kirchner, who apparently offered government posts to both him and his son.

Mr Borocotó's decision attracted opprobrium, with one member of the public even launching a legal case against him for fraud. Meanwhile, the PRO is trying to prevent Mr Borocotó from taking his place in the chamber of deputies, arguing that he was elected as their representative and that his decision to change sides “swindles the electorate”. The party is also suing him for around $100,000, the amount it says was spent on his campaign.

Rob the aged

A wave of attacks on pensioners is causing alarm in Argentina. Although the violence is a national problem, Buenos Aires province has seen some particularly serious cases, involving the beating and torturing of elderly people during robberies. The police estimate that about 150 attacks take place every month on pensioners in the province. In the city of La Plata, eight pensioners have been murdered so far this year.

León Arslanián, the provincial security minister, said that police had tackled three separate gangs who had been preying on the elderly. But he warned there was no quick fix for the problem. The provincial police force, the notorious Bonaerense, does little to instil public confidence. One of the gangs arrested was led by a serving police sergeant, who participated in attacks wearing his uniform.

Bomb suspect

Eleven years after a bomb attack on a Jewish community centre that killed 85 and wounded over 300, investigators claim to have identified the man responsible. They say it was a suicide bombing, in which a van packed with explosives was driven by Ibrahim Hussein Berro, a 21-year-old Lebanese man and an alleged member of Hizbullah. In response, the leading local Jewish organisation, DAIA, has called on the government to push for sanctions against Iran, which it accuses of backing the attack. Hussein Berro's family and Hizbullah have denied the charges, claiming that the suspect died in combat with Israeli troops in Lebanon.

The investigations have so far failed to bring any of the perpetrators to justice. The case against the men accused of providing local logistical support—including several corrupt police officials—collapsed spectacularly last year amid allegations of serious misconduct by the judge in charge. Another judge responsible for investigating those charges was removed from the case in November, accused of bias.

Catch if you can

December 2005

Giorgio Morandi and the Italian still life

Until January 29th 2006

The Borges Cultural Centre in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires is playing host to a notable exhibition of 33 works by Giorgio Morandi, an Italian artist, and some of his most illustrious compatriots, including Carlo Carrá, Giorgio de Chirico, Gino Severini and Fausto Pirandello. The works cover the period from 1912 to 1959 and open with eight paintings by Mr Morandi. These are contrasted with pieces by other artists who together developed a new way of representing still-life subjects. The show, organised by the Italian embassy, is touring the continent and will move on to Peru and Chile.

Centro Cultural Borges, Corner of Viamonte and San Martín, Centre. Tel: +54 (0)11 5555-5359. Open: Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm; Sun noon-9pm. See the website.

More from the Buenos Aires cultural calendar