Buenos Aires governor Axel Kicillof moved forward with the suspension of the MESA plan, the food assistance program implemented during the pandemic, in a context of growing deficit in provincial accounts.
It will have a major impact on canteens and beneficiaries across the country, who will stop receiving food.The Extraordinary Module for Food Security had been supported since 2020 as a key tool to assist vulnerable families. Even after the end of health restrictions, the program continued to work as a complement to the Peronist deterioration of purchasing power. Its interruption marks a break in the speech of the governor, who for years sought to position himself as a benchmark for social assistance
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The Kicillof government decided to make progress on social assistance instead of cutting back on the state structure. Faced with a drop in revenue, the adjustment was not directed towards the extensive public sector or towards ideological programs, but ended up having an impact on food aid. In the meeting with mayors and officials, the priority given to public employees was clearly stated.
During that meeting, the impossibility of supporting social programs, an oversized state structure, subsidies and public works was exposed at the same time. In this context, while some leaders warned that food aid should not be touched, the decision of Kirchnerism was to cut
