MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mrs. Kirchner to run in Bs. Aires

Government sources yesterday leaked the news that first lady Cristina Fernández has finally decided to run for national senator for the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina's largest electoral district, in the October 23 midterm elections.

The October vote is crucial for Kirchner's wishes to consolidate his political standing after winning the presidency with the lowest popular mandate in the democratic history of Argentina in 2003. Kirchner got 22 percent of the votes in the presidential election and won after former president Carlos Menem walked out of the second round.

The President has said the midterm vote would be "a plebiscite" for his administration.

Buenos Aires province is the political stronghold of former interim president Eduardo Duhalde, who is considered Kirchner's main political backer. Sources in Government House said a meeting between Kirchner and Duhalde to discuss the October elections was imminent.

The government reportedly wants Duhalde to allow the first lady, currently a senator for Kirchner's home-province, Santa Cruz, to head two slates: one manned by Duhalde followers and another by non-Duhalde pro-Kirchner candidates, including followers of Governor Felipe Solá.

The actual governor, meanwhile, insisted that the first lady would be the ideal candidate to head the Peronist senatorial slate in the province, Argentina's largest electoral district.

"We would be very happy. Remember I said back in November that I thought she was the right person to run in the province," said Solá during a visit to the La Cava shanty in the Greater Buenos Aires district of San Isidro.

Reports in the last few days have said that Mrs. Kirchner has already decided to launch an electoral career in Buenos Aires, her home-province.

The first lady is currently a senator for Santa Cruz, President Néstor Kirchner's home-province in Patagonia. Most polls indicate that Mrs. Kirchner would win the senatorial race in Buenos Aires if she finally decides to run.(BAH))