MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Menem names his potential Cabinet.

Economy, Carlos Melconián; Foreign Relations, Jorge Castro; Defence, Pablo Rojo; Education, Juan Tobías; Health, Alejandro Matera; Interior... could it be Adolfo Rodríguez Saá?

Word that Melconián would receive the job came as a surprise late on Tuesday night, when it all but seemed the Economy Ministry under a Menem government would go to Pablo Rojo, a more orthodox economist. Rojo, however, was not left out of the Cabinet but was given the defence portfolio instead. Juan Tobías, chancellor of the privately-run University of El Salvador, would run the Education Ministry and Alejandro Matera, son of the late neurosurgeon Raúl Matera, would take the Health Ministry, Menem said in a statement.

The Labour Ministry would go to Carlos Torres, who already served as an official in the area under Menem, and the Foreign Ministry to Jorge Castro, an expert in international relations who served as Menem's strategic planning secretary towards the end of his 1989-9 administration.

Menem left one position vacant: the key Interior Ministry, a portfolio handling the federal government's relations with the provinces. "It is reserved because we are close to an agreement with some sectors of the political community," said Menem. Rumours went about that the job could be offered to Adolfo Rodríguez Saá, the Peronist who came in fifth in the April 27 presidential election. Menem visited Rodríguez Saá on Wednesday in search of political support. Rodríguez Saá is tomorrow scheduled to meet with his followers and take a stance for the second round. Menem said yesterday that he believed Rodríguez Saá would let his followers free to vote for whoever they want.

The 72-year-old former head of state also confirmed that his running mate Juan Carlos Romero would also serve as Cabinet chief in a Menem government.

Menem gathered all his new team together at Báez 300 in the city neighbourhood of Belgrano yesterday to tape a television commercial which will be on the air over the next few days. The ad was directed by Ramiro Agulla, a marketing expert who also ran Fernando de la Rúa's campaign in 1999.

Observers believe that Menem faces an uphill battle to beat Kirchner, governor of the oil-rich Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, on May 18.