Norte Grande Parliament meets in La Rioja to address industrial crisis

The 59th Plenary Session of the Norte Grande Parliament was held in La Rioja, bringing together 130 legislators from ten provinces of the NOA and NEA regions. The assembly issued a joint manifesto warning of a critical industrial crisis, noting that industrial capacity utilization has dropped to 57% and approximately 97,000 direct jobs have been lost since December 2023.

Key regional demands include the implementation of a federal law for differentiated electricity tariffs in warm zones to offset gas subsidy cuts in colder regions. Legislators also highlighted the paralysis of public works, deteriorating infrastructure, and the need for economic relief for families facing rising debt.

Regional leaders, including La Rioja Governor Ricardo Quintela and Santiago del Estero Vice-Governor Carlos Silva Neder, emphasized the need for regional organization and production in response to national economic shifts. The session also addressed the importance of renewable energy, industrial development through biomass, and the role of public education in regional growth.

Separately, in the Salado River Basin, provincial authorities and mayors met in Roque Pérez to coordinate water management policies in anticipation of El Niño weather patterns. They presented a program to regularize hydraulic infrastructure to better manage potential water surpluses.