MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner will take office before Congress

Breaking with history incoming Argentine president Nestor Kirchner will be taking office Sunday May 25 in Congress and not as traditionally in the country's Government House, Casa Rosada, world known for the balconies from where Juan Domingo and Evita Peron addressed the masses assembled in Plaza de Mayo.

"We have thirteen foreign presidents confirmed and we believe for security and space reasons, Congress is a more appropriate place", said outgoing caretaker president Eduardo Duhalde

The Presidents are Lula da Silva from Brazil; Ricardo Lagos, Chile; Jorge Batlle, Uruguay; Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, Bolivia; Alejandro Toledo, Peru; Hugo Chavez, Venezuela; Alfonso Portillo, Guatemala; Francisco Flores, El Salvador; Mireya Moscoso, Panama; Lucio Gutierrez, Ecuador; Alvaro Uribe, Colombia; Luis González Macchi, Paraguay and at last moment Fidel Carsto from Cuba also confirm he wil be attending the ceremony.

Spain will be represented by the heir of the throne, Felipe de Borbón and United States by Mel Martínez, Housing and Urban Development Secretary a close aide of president Bush who usually plays baseball with the US president.

On the morning of Sunday May 25, which is also a national holiday in Argentina, there will be a Tedeum in the Luján Basilica and at 14:30 hours before the General Assembly Mr. Kirchner will receive the presidential sash from Mr. Duhalde. At 19:00 hours a religious service is scheduled in the Metropolitan Cathedral just across from Casa Rosada.

An hour and a half before in the While Hall of Casa Rosada cabinet ministers will take the official oath.

Looking back to his scarce 18 months in office caretaker president Eduardo Duhalde said "we did more than we expected, so I leave convinced we did everything possible".

Mr. Duhalde took office in January 2002 in the midst of a political crisis and possibly the worst of Argentina's financial meltdowns.

"I don't have much to repent for, and I'm particularly satisfied that on leaving there are no claims or accusations of waste, corruption or frivolity as happened with previous governments", emphasized Mr. Duhalde.

As to the future Mr. Duhalde insisted he will take no post in the Justicialista ruling party structure and proposed a "combined provisional leadership for the party with all provincial governors to ensure a strong support for the incoming administration". However he did admit that in the future he might be tempted to run for the Senate representing his powerful turf of the province of Buenos Aires.

Mr. Duhalde revealed that after the ceremony he will leaving with Brazilian president Lula da Silva for Brazil, and has plans to visit Spain before returning to Settle for a long time in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Support for incoming cabinet

A majority of Argentines, 57,9%, have a "good or very good opinion" of the incoming cabinet of elected president Nestor Kirchner, while 21% said they were "unimpressed" and 18% stated it was too early to make an assessment.

These are the results of a quick phone public opinion poll among 600 people done by the OPSM consulting firm headed by Enrique Zuleta Puceiro, and published this week in La Nación. Just 2,1% considered the cabinet "bad".

The winning colors went for Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna with a 79,6% approval and 8,5% rejection. Mr. Lavagna is considered the architect of the recovery of the Argentine economy. Mr. Kirchner' sister Alicia who will be heading the Social Affairs Ministry also had a strong 65% reception and 9,2% rejection. Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernández and possibly the incoming president's closest and most trusted ally managed 65% positive acceptance and 16% negative.

The next Foreign Affairs Minister, Rafael Bielsa recorded 54,2% and 10%; Public Health Minister, who stays on from the Duhalde administration, 56% and 12%; Aníbal Fernández, the current Production Minister and future Home Secretary, 49% and 13%. Finally the incoming Justice Minister Gustavo Béliz was the most rejected 24,8%, but his acceptance standing is satisfactory, 41%.