Page 33 - MIN JUS 2 MARCH 2016

WORLD NEWS A11
Wednesday 2 March 2016

Argentina’s Macri: nation in bad shape but change coming

Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri pumps his fist as he leaves the Congress after giving the ruption and solve a long- Argentina and the group
annual State of the Nation address in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Macri as- standing spat with creditors of creditors led by billion-
sumed the presidency in December after campaigning on promises to modernize the economy in the U.S. aire investor Paul Singer an-
by attracting foreign investment, root out corruption and solve a long-standing spat with creditors Speaking in a somber nounced a tentative deal,
in the U.S. tone during the hour-long potentially putting an end
speech, several times Mac- to years of legal fights that
(AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) ri returned to the issue of have kept the South Ameri-
drugs. He said Argentina can nation from accessing
was a “prosperous coun- international credit mar-
try for drug traffickers,” kets.
and added that the South The deal, however, must
American nation had be- be approved by Congress,
come the world’s third larg- where Macri doesn’t have
est producer of cocaine. majorities in either cham-
The problem was exacer- ber and will likely face stiff
bated by “borders that are opposition
virtually defenseless” and a from some sectors of the
military so weakened that Peronist Party, which lost
it possessed “planes that the presidency for the
don’t fly.” first time in 12 years in last
Macri addressed the year’s election.
long-standing fight with a Macri said he trusted leg-
group of creditors in the islators would “be respon-
U.S., bluntly framing it as a sible” in their rhetoric and
problem now in the hands “we’ll build the necessary
of Congress. On Monday, consensus” to pass a deal.

PETER PRENGAMAN tary planes cannot fly. with enormous potential,”
Associated Press Addressing Congress on Macri said, sitting next to
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina the first day of the legis- Vice President Gabriela
(AP) — Argentine President lative session, Macri also Michetti as he addressed
Mauricio Macri painted a blasted the previous ad- Congress.
grim picture of the nation ministration, saying that po- “But the first thing we must
on Tuesday, litical patronage had led to do is recognize that we are
telling Congress that the a major spike in the number not in good shape.”
state is broke, drug traffick- of workers on government Macri, a conservative and
ers are prospering and insti- payrolls. Several thousand former mayor of Buenos Ai-
tutions including the armed people have been fired res, campaigned on prom-
forces are so weakened since Macri assumed office ises to modernize the econ-
that the borders are barely in December. omy by attracting foreign
protected and many mili- “We are a great country investment, root out cor-

Venezuela:
Court bans congress from removing justices

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) opposition-controlled con- The appointments filled va-
— Venezuela’s Supreme gress and President Nico- cancies left by justices who
Court is banning congress las Maduro’s socialist ad- retired early. The opposi-
from investigating the gov- ministration. A lame duck tion says it has evidence
ernment’s rushed appoint- government-controlled that some of the justices
ment last year of 13 high congress approved the ap- were forced to quit un-
court justices. pointment of 13 Supreme der threats. The Supreme
The ruling Tuesday came Court justices just before Court in its ruling said that
just hours before lawmak- Christmas in a move that congress would be over-
ers are set to debate the the opposition says under- stepping its authority if it at-
issue. It sets up another mined its landslide victory tempts to remove or even
likely clash between the in legislative elections. review the appointments.