MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bielsa runs for Congress and leaves December

Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Bielsa will run as candidate for the Lower House of Congress for the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina's second most important electoral district.

Mr. Bielsa for taking on a challenge that the Foreign Secretary was reportedly reluctant to accept.

"I am part of a collective project. When you have to play as a winger, you play as a winger, when you have to play as a full-back you play as a full-back. This is not a matter of personal comfort or better living standards", said Mr. Bielsa who added that "I have been committed to this President since May 8, 2002 when he only had a voting potential of 1.56%. I will not veer from this commitment. This candidacy is a historic possibility, possibly the last in my life as a public servant, because it will be very difficult to have another President like this one, another historical moment like this."

Mr. Kirchner came to office in May 2003 with the lowest popular vote for a president in Argentine history and amid the country's worst economic crisis on record, with crucial help from Buenos Aires province strongman Eduardo Duhalde.

An economic rebound that started under Mr. Duhalde and a sweeping anti-corruption crusade made Mr. Kirchner's image to skyrocket. He then launched a "transversal" strategy seeking to forge his own power-base by siding also with non-Peronist forces to avoid Duhalde's bear hug.

Kirchner and Duhalde are now locked in a fierce fight for control of the Peronists that is even threatening to split the party in Buenos Aires province, which houses nearly 40% of Argentina's voters.

The President who says that the October vote will be a "plebiscite" on his administration has plans to send his wife Cristina Fernández to run for a Senate seat in Buenos Aires province, a possibility that irked Duhalde and his wife Hilda González, who may also seek a senatorial seat.

As part of his efforts to get a victory that he can claim his own Mr. Kirchner decided to send Mr. Bielsa to run in Buenos Aires City.

Mr. Bielsa will be running for the Victory Front, which is made up of the city's Peronists headed by Alberto Fernández, the "transversal" Victory Party of Diego Kravetz and Vilma Ibarra, and New Leadership, founded by former justice minister Gustavo Beliz.

On presenting Bielsa, Cabinet Chief Fernández said everybody, both Peronist and non-Peronists, must cooperate to rebuild the country.

If Mr. Bielsa next October wins one of the 12 Deputy seats that are at stake, he would take office on December 10, when all new legislators take their posts. The October vote will renew half of the Lower House and a third of the Senate. Peronists have a majority in both Houses.

Among those tipped to replace Bielsa are Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, Ambassador in Washington José Bordón, Argentine Consul in New York Héctor Timmerman, the President's Legal and Technical Secretary Carlos Zannini, Deputy Jorge Argüello and former vice-president Carlos "Chacho" Alvarez. However in a Sunday interview published in La Nación when specifically asked about a successor Mr. Bielsa declined to give names but admitted that Economy minister Roberto Lavagna would make an "exceptional Foreign Secretary, he dominates foreign trade, he's eloquent and is respected all over the world".

Mr. Bielsa revealed he will personally campaign and address "multilateral issues", cutting on the less demanding international agenda and leaving "bilateral issues" in the hands of Deputy minister Jorge Taiana.

"Obviously I won't be missing the UN General Assembly next September".

Regarding the election Mr. Bielsa admitted it will be "complicated and difficult", adding that "Macri is a candidate with pots of money for whom I have no respect".

However Ms. Carrió is an experienced candidate and in spite of big differences "I feel comfortable with her".

In a radio interview Ms. Carrió said she had no interest in discussing or attacking Mr. Bielsa because "I respect him and I've known him for years", in spite of the fact that Argentina's foreign policy is "dreadful" but this is "Kirchner's administration responsibility".

"I have no interest in turning the Buenos Aires campaign into a political butchery", underlined Ms. Carrió.