My kids used to sing a song at school: “Lost my partner, what shall I do?”, and for some strange reason I link this popular American partner-stealing dance from the 1840s with the frantic candidate rat race which we watched in disbelief this week in Argentina. This simple game of stealing partners (or swapping partners as in square dancing), somehow depicts the weird, unexpected, unthought of new born political alliances. Guys who used to despise each other and have said it openly and repeatedly, are now walking hand in hand as best buddies. Hatred has magically turned into love at first (or second, or third) sight.
Going back to the song, there’s always a lonely boy standing in the center of the moving circle of couples. I can picture Massa, or Urtubey, or Lavagna in that role, desperately looking for a partner, after flirting with many. One thing’s for sure: we can never get bored or lose our sense of awe hereabouts. Never. Sigh …
Published on Buenos Aires Times