The Man Who Would Be King (or at least president) Part I

By: Jeremy | November 29th, 2008

As November gives way to December, the longgggg awaited elections at Independence Park seem possibly to finally be on the verge of happening.

Before I try and take a look at Guillermo Lorente, who is the opposition candidate for president of Newell’s, let’s take a quick look at how we got here, staring waaaay back in 1994.

In 1994, Solidez Institucional, headed by Eduardo Lope$, won the election with 1600 votes. Nuevo Espacio Rojinegro came second with 1400 and the reigning president pulled down about 200 votes. So Lope$ was in.

In 1997, Lope$ popularity was in the tank. He moved up the registration date for candidates without telling anyone about it. Various legal proceedings all fell in his favor. At that point he was still well connected in the judiciary.

In 2000, the Justice department ordered a halt to the elections due to problems with the list of socios. ‘Problems’ created by Uncle Edward himself. It pays to be well connected with the judges, huh, Lope$ (and judge Rodolfo Bruch). In 2000, Lope$ also began his brilliantly conceived plan to let anyone become a socio without paying monthly quotas. His stated goal was 100,000 socios.

In 2004, the state government decided that there could be no elections because their was no list of socios, or even a functioning socio program. There was. A list about 22,000 strong. That was when Lope$, after fraudulently claiming the presidency, again, froze the list of socios and wouldn’t allow anymore. He said it was to avoid problems in the future. What a load of crap. And it seems like this year, they will be basing who can and can’t vote off of the supposedly non-existent list of socios from 2004. Go figure.

In 2008, the tide seems to have turned. After playing hot potato with the issue, the Justice department finally ruled that socios registered in 2004 did not have to have their quotas paid and everyone could vote. See, Edward had first stopped anyone from paying. But then he refused to allow anyone to participate in the political happenings if they weren’t paid up. Brilliant. And apparently over. He has appealed, but so far nothing has happened.

This year, Mo.Le, an umbrella group for all of the various opposition factions has united behind 1994 candidate Guillermo Lorente. They look primed for a victory. When they turned in their documents to officially enter the race, they had collected 1300 or so signatures. Lope$’ people and barra leader Robert “El Pimpi” Caminos were there and questioned every signature. Only 20 or so were thrown out. So Mo.Le still met the requirements.

When it came time for the same group to vet Uncle Edward’s signatures they tried to rush through it. Not so fast said Mo.Le representatives and it appears that possibly hundreds of Lope$’s signatures aren’t valid. I’m sure the Head Rat will still qualify to run, but he is so out. He is getting desperate, and sending his thugs out to harass the good name of Loriente.

Graffiti like this is all over Rosario. Basically it states Lorente’s name, a company he is involved with, and calls them thieves.