Juan Manzur is head of the Cabinet but moves as if he were the head of state. He feels so proper to the public goods that to travel to the United States he used a medical plane from the province of Tucumán. The governor, on leave from office, decided not to go on a regular flight but preferred a jet that has been taking him from one place to another for years.

The Lear Jet 60 registration LV-CKA, owned by the provincial state, was waiting for him at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, in the area of ​​the private flights terminal. The mechanics and pilots were already working early so the official didn't have to wait. The logistics were perfect. At 8, Manzur arrived, in a suit and mask. He boarded the plane and a few minutes later, it took off.

The decision surprised. First, because of the type of jet that was chosen and because of the cost of the operation. That plane has a market price of between 2,500 and 3,000 dollars for rent per flight hour. But beyond that, it drew attention in the sector that Manzur travels in an aircraft that is configured without a bathroom. In fact, he will have to stop at least three times before reaching his destination. In addition to fuel, the Argentine emissary will be able to visit the toilets of the chosen airports; in flight, if the settings were not changed, you will only have the option to wait for the next landing.

“He traveled by plane from Tucumán because due to the limited schedules and the planned activities there were no scheduled flight combinations. The plane is rented to the province for a matter of availability and it is not so complex to move it. The national state bears the operational cost of moving the plane. The same cost as moving one of the national fleet,” said a source from the Cabinet Office while Manzur was on his first stop, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

The explanation of the Chief of Staff, in addition, omits to record what type of purchase or rental tender process was carried out to decide to go on this plane and not on another. But above all, the spokesperson was unable to explain the rationality of transferring an official, with three stopovers, on a day trip -the corporate world or officials travel at night to be able to take advantage of business hours- and that, in addition It has cheaper, faster, and ensuite options.

Movements early in the morning

At that time in the morning, all the planes were taking off from the north to the south. But the white aircraft, decorated with a red and a blue line, headed for the other side of the runway and began its run towards the other side. LA NACION had been waiting early for the official to leave.

Manzur, who these days accompanied President Alberto Fernández on his visit to Tucumán, on a lightning tour that aims to oil ties with the administration of President Joe Biden and businessmen from that country.

According to LA NACION, "the entry key for this particular trip is Dan Restrepo, former National Security adviser for Latin America during the presidency of Barack Obama, also a Democrat." “Manzur's trip (who has solid ties to representatives of business in the United States) has the additional objective of preparing the ground for an upcoming trip by the President to the United States, an objective shared by the Argentine ambassador in the North American political capital, Jorge Arguello. ”, wrote Jaime Rosenberg.

At 9:32 the plane left the country. It flew over Formosa and exited over the Pilcomayo River through Paraguayan airspace. The minister's flight can be followed on the pages that follow the itineraries of the planes just by consigning the registration number. According to the flight plan, the first stop will be Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in Bolivia.

Yesterday, when the documents to make the journey were presented, several of those who received the request were amazed. It happens that the plane is from the province, it is bought as a toilet and, in addition, the destination to which it flies, New York, has several frequencies from Argentina. Since then, rumors about the minister's departure have multiplied. According to sources in the province, it is not sanitary but "it is conditioned as a sanitary in case of need."

The fear of escrache

According to several industry sources consulted by LA NACION, the Cabinet Office moved this week in search of tickets on commercial airlines. They looked for at least 6 tickets in Aerolíneas Argentinas and American Airlines. Such was the management that they came to have confirmed reservations.

But near the entourage the fear of the “escrache” began to grow. There were not a few who warned him about the possibility of being photographed, recorded with cell phones and that in a plane full of passengers who are going to be vaccinated in the United States, he could receive some verbal aggression.

Given the possibility, they opted for a private flight and then the possibility of using the provincial Lear appeared, which the official has used as his own for years. The way to protect themselves was to leave a reserved sector of the Aeroparque and not show up. Only LA NACION waited for him at the foot of the plane.

In December 2020, then-Governor Manzur asked the provincial Legislature for authorization to buy a plane for $4.5 million. He argued, for the initiative to be approved, that in recent years the request for medical flights has increased. In the bill he indicated that the operation “is necessary to meet the operational demands of the Provincial Directorate of Aeronautics”. In addition, he indicated that "the intention is to acquire a Lear Jet 60 XR, since it satisfies the requirements imposed on operational flights by Argentina and the rest of the world." This aircraft that was used was purchased in 2010 by the then governor, José Alperovich, and was not without controversy. The legislature had authorized the purchase for $30 million, but the president liked a more expensive one that was listed at $36 million. By decree he increased the amount unilaterally and bought it. Manzur, his successor, in 2020, tried to go for a newer one. And while he hasn't bought it, the governor on leave, in the meantime, uses it as his own.

“The medical plane is available to anyone who needs it,” Manzur said on September 2, when the plane was leaving Tucumán for Buenos Aires to bring León back to the province, a little boy who is suffering from a terminal illness and wanted to be reunited with his relatives. Finally, despite the official communication, the little one traveled on a private flight.

The vast majority of jets used by governors in Argentina are imported and registered as toilets. The formula is used for two reasons. The first, political: it is easier to “sell” public opinion for emergency and sanitary use; the second, because they are imported and maintained with some exemptions in fees and taxes. Later, they use them as remises for governors and condition it when a situation requires it.

This time he, the national chief of staff, needed it to travel and oil ties with the United States. And true to his word, he used it out of necessity. If there is an emergency in Tucumán, he will go on another plane. Or he will wait for the return of Manzur, the governor on leave who still uses provincial assets.