An intense battle with the government over taxes has pushed some farmers to run for Congress in June elections, but they will need to build political alliances to force a shift in agriculture policy. The June 28 vote is a stiff test for President Cristina Fernandez. Polls show she may lose her congressional majority at a time when the opposition has rallied around the farmers and their calls for lower taxes on farm exports. Dozens of farmers are running on opposition tickets for seats in Congress and provincial legislatures. For many, it is their first foray into politics, and they may struggle to turn their popularity into votes. “This is a big challenge for farmer leaders because they won their popularity by making economic and social demands, not political ones,” said Argentine political analyst Roberto Bacman. Farmers have led months of protests over a hefty tax on soy, Argentina's leading export. The protests have subsided in the run-up to the mid-term election. With the government ruling out any change to the tax, farmers have taken their fight to Congress. Opposition parties have presented a bill to lower the levies, but failed to get enough votes to go to the floor for debate. Farm leaders believe if Fernandez loses her congressional majority, it could open the way for lawmakers to modify the tax. To accomplish that, elected farmers will have to build coalitions across party lines. Leaders from two leading opposition parties and a dissident faction of the ruling Peronist party have publicly backed the farmers' calls for a new tax scheme. “Congress has to be an arena to keep fighting for a new agricultural policy,” said Pablo Orsolini, vice president of the Argentine Agrarian Federation who is running for a congressional seat from the northern province of Chaco. The farming conflict, a slowing economy and high inflation have dropped Fernandez's popularity to around 30 percent. Her support has eroded in rural areas as well as big cities. The dispute, marked by repeated protests and strikes that affected global soy prices, polarized Argentines. Fernandez critics said her refusal to lower the taxes indicated the government's authoritarian style. Government supporters said farmers benefited from a spike in prices last year that gave them “extraordinary” earnings. Argentina is among the world's leading suppliers of wheat, soy and corn and agriculture holds a special place in Argentine culture and history. Abundant grains and beef exports put Argentina among the world's 10 wealthiest countries in the early 1900s before decades of economic and political turmoil. But agricultural issues have been largely absent from the campaign so far. Although leaders from the four main farming groups became virtual celebrities because of the standoff, none of them is running for office. “The other farm leaders are not well-known,” said Ricardo Rouvier, a pollster and political analyst. Farmers are competing on several opposition tickets, meaning their candidates are not aligned with one single party. Hoping to broaden their appeal as candidates, some farmers are trying not to focus solely on agricultural issues while campaigning. They are trying to make a connection with broader political and economic issues. “Even though you come from a certain sector, that doesn't mean you aren't aware of other problems,” said Ricardo Buryaile, an official from the Rural Conferedations farm group who is also a candidate. Analysts say many of the farmers will have to work to boost their candidacies. “Sectorial leaders with a certain level of popularity don't necessarily translate into good candidates,” said Rouvier.
