A session to elect authorities for the Buenos Aires provincial Senate is stalled as internal divisions within the Peronist party continue, more than six hours after its scheduled start. The dispute centers on the position of first vice president of the Senate, with factions led by Axel Kicillof and Máximo Kirchner vying for control, a sign of ongoing tensions within the governing coalition.
According to reports, Governor Kicillof is backing Ayelén Durán for the position, but Kirchner’s faction is opposing the nomination. Pedro Borgini was initially considered as a potential compromise candidate, but that possibility appears to have faded, with Mario Ishii gaining momentum. Ishii, a former mayor of José C. Paz, is being promoted by the Kirchner wing of the party.
Ishii arrived in La Plata accompanied by approximately 150 supporters and took up residence in the office previously occupied by Teresa García, the former head of the Peronist bloc, while awaiting a resolution. His chances of securing the vice presidency reportedly increased as the day progressed, potentially relegating Durán to the second vice presidency.
Sergio Berni is also expected to be appointed as the head of the Unión por la Patria bloc, which holds 24 seats in the Senate. This appointment would ensure the governing coalition has the necessary quorum to conduct business. The outcome of these negotiations is being closely watched as a test of the fragile truce between Kicillof and the Kirchner family, which began with discussions regarding the restructuring of the Buenos Aires Peronist party.
The session was originally scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., but negotiations continued throughout the day, mirroring similar debates that took place throughout 2025. Ishii expressed confidence in his prospects, bringing supporters from José C. Paz to La Plata to demonstrate his base of support.
Ishii previously attempted to secure the same position in 2013, and when unsuccessful, formed a separate bloc, fracturing the Peronist party. The struggle for the vice presidency is significant as it places the holder second in the line of succession to Governor Kicillof, behind Lieutenant Governor Verónica Magario. The position is part of a larger package that includes the leadership of the Peronist bloc and seats on the Senate’s committees.
Senate: a shifting landscape
Pedro Borgini, aligned with Kicillof, was reportedly considered as a replacement for Durán. However, his candidacy faces resistance from within La Cámpora due to his association with Cuervo Larroque, a key figure in Kicillof’s political circle who has a strained relationship with Kirchner. Germán Lago, another member of the Movimiento al Futuro (MDF), also participated in the negotiations.
Borgini
Marcelo Feliú has also been mentioned as a potential consensus candidate, offering a way to break the deadlock that has persisted for over two months. Sources suggest a possible agreement on the leadership of the bloc and other vice presidencies, postponing a decision on the first vice presidency.
The tension reflects Kicillof’s desire to secure a key position in the line of succession, while the Kirchner faction seeks to maintain the existing power structure, where the position was previously held by a representative of the Kirchner-aligned intendentismo, such as Luis Vivona.
