MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner's first test in the polls.

The election this Sunday, August 24th, of Buenos Aires next mayor has become a strong test for Argentine president Nestor Kirchner who is openly supporting one of the candidates.

Three months into power Mr. Kirchner and Senator Mrs. Kirchner, have given the full backing of the presidential office to incumbent mayor Aníbal Ibarra who is running for re-election and faces a formidable challenge from businessman Mauricio Macri, heir of one of Argentina's family fortunes and president of one of the country's most popular football teams, Boca Juniors.

Mr. Ibarra first reached office with the support of the defunct Alianza, an alliance between the Radical party and a left wing coalition that helped former president Fernando de la Rúa become president in 1999 until street riots forced his to resign two years later. A former prosecutor when members of the military Juntas that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983 were convicted for human rights abuses and other crimes, Mr. Ibarra established a working alliance with the Kirchner administration also currently involved in eliminating all legislation exempting the military from conviction which was passed under previous presidents, Raul Alfonsin, Carlos Menem and Fernando de la Rúa.

Middle class educated Buenos Aires residents with a flair for left wing positions support Mr. Ibarra while the business community and the less educated favour Mr. Macri, a successful businessman on his own who turned a deficit ridden and looser Boca Juniors into one of the best managed clubs and winner of world cups.

Public opinion polls indicate Mr. Macri is ahead with between 2 and 5 points, (35 to 39%) but apparently insufficient to avoid a run off.

However is there's a second round on September 14th Mr. Ibarra is expected to be re-elected.

The independent and "ideological" vote according to the three main Buenos Aires opinion pollsters, will decide for Mr. Ibarra

"Mr. Macri is a controversial candidate for the independent vote and Mr. Ibarra is more neutral", says Mr. Roberto Bacman from Centro de Estudio de Opinión Pública.

"For Buenos Aires voters Mr. Macri's main problem is his name, and for Mr. Ibarra his incompetent administration of the city", says Analía del Franco from Research International-Analogia.

Senator Cristina Kirchner and Mr. Ibarra have tried to link Mr. Macri with former president Carlos Menem who actually tempted and introduced him into politics.

Even if Mr. Ibarra is finally re-elected mayor of Buenos Aires, given the ample national support and approval of President Kirchner's first three months in office, a first round victory for the incumbent and the president's candidate would seem a more appropriate test result.

A total of 2,6 million residents of Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, are entitled to vote this Sunday.