The Kirchnerist mayor of La Matanza, Fernando Espinoza, found himself at the center of criticism after organizing a multimillion-dollar fan fest to watch the Argentine National Team at a venue of the National University of La Matanza, which has a capacity for about 50,000 people, but was attended by fewer than 100 locals.
The municipal administration had heavily promoted the event on social media, with official videos and appearances by Espinoza himself. The setup included a giant screen, infrastructure for a mass event, security operations, barriers, and even a giant Messi doll at the entrance to try to attract the public.
However, the result was a resounding failure. Images of the virtually empty venue quickly circulated on social media and exposed the low turnout of the municipal apparatus in one of the historically most important districts for Peronism in Buenos Aires.
The opposition questioned not only the low attendance but also the use of public resources to set up an event of such magnitude. Local leaders demanded that the municipality report how much the event cost and what contracts were made for sound, screens, logistics, security, and infrastructure.
Various media outlets and local figures pointed out that the cost of the operation would have been around 36 million pesos, a figure that made the municipality's political explanation even more uncomfortable. The lack of official details is something that has historically characterized the Kirchnerist mayor, so it is expected that accountability will be avoided by the administration.
The venue arranged for the event
The controversy grew because La Matanza has been facing demands for dirt roads, lack of lighting, insecurity, deteriorated hospitals, and basic infrastructure problems for years. In this context, the fan fest ended up serving as a postcard of the disconnection between the municipality's priorities and the real needs of the residents.
The organization even anticipated restrictions for a crowd, such as the prohibition of flags over one and a half meters, balls, and unauthorized promotions. The final picture was a venue prepared for thousands of people with barely a handful of attendees.
