MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Duhalde calls early election

In a short address to the country Argentine president Eduardo Duhalde announced national elections will be advanced from September 2003 to March 2003, with compulsory, simultaneous and open primaries for all parties to nominate candidates next November.

Whoever wins the March general election will take office on May 25th., one of Argentina's two national celebrations.

"When I took office I had one basic objective, to overcome the anarchic situation and economic depression?..and now that we are very close to reaching an agreement with international credit organizations, I've decided that in 120 days time, beginning today (July 2nd.), Argentines will elect their candidates for president and vice president in open primaries, and 120 days later, we will all decide who is to conduct us", said President Duhalde.

The Argentine president insisted that to continue with reforms "we need a government supported by a strong popular showing in the polls and capable of putting in practice a sustainable economic development".

Mr. Duhalde pointed out that it was his will that Argentines could elect all new officials, but "that decision belongs to the Legislative".

"Politics needs renovation", and it's a challenge "for all of us to rescue politics", said president Duhalde in direct reference to opinion polls indicating an overwhelming majority of the Argentine electorate wants a renewal of all Deputies and Senators.

However the unexpected announcement generated different reactions: The junior partner in the ruling coalition, the Radical Party questioned the fact the decision was not previously consulted with all parties represented in Congress.

"Since Congress is president Duhalde's political support, we believe the decision needed further consideration with all political forces", said Senator Carlos Maestro adding that anyhow the new electoral timetable offers "a firm horizon".

Deputy Graciela Ocaña talking for the opposition, demanded a renovation of all Congressional mandates, otherwise "the current lack of governance in Argentina will continue".

Furthermore Ms. Ocaña said that in the largest districts the "electoral system must be changed, particularly the broad sheet mechanism that allows the inclusion of names the electorate never dreamed of voting for". Ms. Ocaña belongs to the ARI, a splinter left wing group whose leader Elisa Carrió has been campaigning against political and financial corruption, and is comfortable ahead in the polls as presidential candidate.

Presidential spokesman Eduardo Amadeo said Mr. Duhalde had in mind advancing elections once three conditions were fulfilled: "that an agreement with international creditors was back on rail, as has occurred; political reform, which was achieved with the signing of the Political Parties bill and compulsory primaries to choose candidates, and finally sufficient fiscal resources to sustain social assistance programs".

However a further political step is necessary to advance elections, that is reforming the acephaly bill since the current presidential mandate constitutionally ends December 10th. 2003 with elections in September 2003.