MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentines reject political system

With less than two months for the October 14th. legislative elections when a new Senate and half the Lower House Chamber will be voted in, almost 40% of Argentines are planning to vote blank, according to the latest polls.

"The disenchantment with the political system has extended, and people are not going to vote against government or in favor of the Peronist opposition or other parties, they will express their rejection to what has happened", indicated Analía del Franco analyst for Analogías public opinion polls.

After a three consecutive years recession, seven austerity programs, financial uncertainty and 16,4% unemployment, --and growing--, Argentines are in no mood to vote or "play the game of the political parties".

This is the first time, following the 1994 Constitutional reform, that the Argentine Senate will be voted directly by the electorate and there were great hopes that a new generation of politicians would have access. Until now Argentine federal Senators were named by the provincial legislatives.

However not many new faces seem to be around after the candidates registry closed last Saturday. In the country' most important constituency, the province of Buenos Aires, former president Raúl Alfonsín will be running against former Peronist governor Eduardo Duhalde, who lost in the 1999 presidential elections with President Fernando De la Rúa.

"At this stage in other elections, at the most 5% would express their willingness not to vote, but this time polls indicate that the "non-turnout" and rejection will be massive", said Marita Carballo, a Gallup poll analyst.

The only new political expression is the "Alternative for a Republic of Equals", headed by a dissident Representative from the ruling alliance, Alisa Carrió, who became notorious recently when she openly accused current and former Argentine government officials, plus local banks and offshore organizations of alleged involvement in money laundering.