Axel Kicillof launches presidential campaign in Mendoza, sparking intra‑Peronist clash with Cristina Fernández

Axel Kicillof, the governor of Buenos Aires, sent a delegation to Mendoza to formally open the first local office of his new political space and to begin a campaign push ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The team includes Buenos Aires infrastructure minister Gabriel Katopodis, Avellaneda mayor Jorge Ferraresi and CTA secretary‑general Hugo Yasky. The inauguration will take place on Mitre and Pedro Molina streets and is backed by local Peronist leaders, the CGT and CTA unions.

The move comes amid a growing internal struggle within the Justicialist Party between Kicillof and former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who seeks to control the party’s candidate selection. Analysts say the outcome of this battle could determine who will face President Javier Milei in the 2027 election and shape the future direction of Peronism in Argentina.