Tucumán political leaders clash over 2027 governorship

Political tensions in Tucumán have escalated following a series of public confrontations between Senator Juan Manzur and provincial leaders Osvaldo Jaldo and Lisandro Catalán. The dispute centers on the provincial leadership and potential candidacies for the 2027 governorship.

Senator Manzur accused Jaldo and Catalán of being part of the same team that supports national government policies, which he claims have led to industrial closures and cuts in health and education. In response, Jaldo challenged Manzur to a direct electoral competition, referring to the senator’s supporters as “caniches” (poodles).

Lisandro Catalán, representing La Libertad Avanza, countered Manzur by blaming the senator for the province’s economic deterioration, describing Manzur and Jaldo as “two sides of the same coin” representing decades of Peronist rule. The exchange has intensified within the local political landscape, with government officials further escalating the rhetoric through animal-themed insults.