Kirchner and Fernández’s lack of a grassroots support base was obvious over the past few days, when social movements coopted by the government and therefore no longer autonomous, and lacking legitimacy in the view of the public, took to the streets to defend the measures affecting farmers.
One of these was the Land and Housing Federation, led by Luis D’Elía, who is now a public employee.
"I am motivated only by visceral hatred of the f***ing oligarchy," D’Elía said on Thursday, after clashing on the streets with demonstrators protesting against the stance taken by the government in response to the farm strike. "I hate the whites in Recoleta (an upscale Buenos Aires neighbourhood) because they think we are trash, scum, and barbarians."
D’Elía stood behind the president on Thursday during her speech calling on farmers to call off their strike and participate in talks instead.
La pregunta recorrió ayer la política, los medios y la calle. ¿Eran, como gritaba afónico D’Elía, golpistas del Barrio Norte? ¿Eran militantes de Carrió, como sugirió Alberto Fernánd - Alicia Rey on 2008-03-28