Controversy over the ‘president logo’

Argentina, September 24, 2010.- A logo with the face of Argentina President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner caused controversy in the country.

The controversy arose after the government decided to put the logo, which is a rubber stamp on all signs public works in the country.

The Ministry of Planning declared that “from now on all public buildings must display a large poster with the caption: ‘Here also grows the Nation’.”

In the corner of the poster, the stamp with the name of the president will be printed next to the image of her smiling face.

According to the newspaper Clarín, “the image of the president refers to a historical picture of Eva Peron.”

Although the head of state has not yet determined whether to seek re-election in the elections of 2011, most analysts speculated that she or her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner will be postulated

Therefore, several opposition legislators criticized the new government initiative on the grounds that it is an inappropriate way of proselytizing.

The Member of GEN, Virginia Linares noted that “The instruction sent by the Ministry of Planning to companies with details on how to install the new signs (…) is the result of a wild personality.”

Rep. Juan Carlos Moran, of the Civic Coalition, said that “what the government is doing is prohibited by public ethics law, which bans the use of names, symbols or images involving personal promotion of the authorities in advertising of events, programs, projects and services.”

When Chief of staff Anibal Fernandez was asked about the proposal, he ignored the initiative saying “it makes no sense those posters bearing the logo of the president.”

But few hours later, the public official was rectified, and came to the defense of the measure, “There is nothing wrong,” he said in statements to Radio Mitre.

“What we’re doing is what is done in all the posters. Governors, mayors, presidents do it. It was made a lifetime. “

It is expected that in the coming weeks Congress will seek to discuss some opinions that precisely regulate the so-called “public advertising” official.