IMF Mission Arrives in Argentina Saturday for Crucial Review

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Delegates from the International Monetary Fund land in Buenos Aires Saturday as concerns about Argentina’s economy cast doubt upon the future of its record $56 billion bailout.

IMF mission chief Roberto Cardarelli will meet new Argentine Economy Minister Hernan Lacunza Saturday to discuss the economic outlook, according to statements by the government and IMF. The IMF also noted it will meet with economic advisers of the main presidential candidates, which will undoubtedly include those of front-runner Alberto Fernandez. The trip will determine whether the IMF disburses $5.3 billion to Argentina in September.

The trip is technically scheduled as the fifth review of Argentina’s IMF credit line, and the government already reached its fiscal targets for June that are under consideration this time.

However, it’s no ordinary check up. Argentina’s outlook has changed dramatically for the worse since the IMF’s last review in June. After Fernandez beat President Mauricio Macri by 15 points in a primary vote Aug. 11, the peso is 18% weaker, bond prices have tanked to record lows and the chance of a default within the next five years has soared to 83%.

Now the IMF must weigh Argentina’s ability to pay down its debt and provide assurances that no matter who governs, the government will stay the course of the program.

To contact the reporters on this story: Patrick Gillespie in Buenos Aires at pgillespie29@bloomberg.net;Jorgelina do Rosario in Buenos Aires at jdorosario@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Juan Pablo Spinetto at jspinetto@bloomberg.net, Robert Jameson

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