MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mrs. Kirchner launches Senate candidacy

With no party emblems just the Argentine flag, First Lady Cristina Kirchner launched Thursday evening her campaign to the Senate for the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina's main electoral district and turf of former caretaker president Eduardo Duhalde.

The rally took place in La Plata, Buenos Aires province capital, under tight security in a closed auditorium for 2,200 guests and with giant screens in the adjoining streets for the party's grass roots to follow the political show.

Mrs. Kirchner praised her husband recalling how the country was when he became president and how much it had advanced since. However she also attacked previous administrations, particularly against Mr. Duhalde a former ally and who hand picked Mr. Kirchner in 2003 to run for the presidency.

"The day I announce my retirement you can be sure I'll go home and stay there. I won't be coming back, over and over, and putting stones in the way", said Mrs. Kirchner in direct reference to Mr. Duhalde who after leaving office in 2003 anticipated he would keep distant from politics.

Former president Eduardo Duhalde is also expected to launch his wife's Senate candidacy for the province of Buenos Aires. But "Chiche" Duhalde will be running as the official candidate for the Peronist party since the couple dominates the party's machinery in Buenos Aires.

Mrs. Kirchner said that next October 23, "the Argentine society will be voting in self defense, not even for a man or a party, in self defense of this country's project which wants to overcome antinomies".

"I'm fanatically Argentine that is why with all my strength, all my heart and conviction, I have stood up for what I think and believe", emphasized Mrs. Kirchner who is actually running as an independent candidate for the "Victory Front".

The launching rally was supported by governors, federal and provincial cabinet ministers, trade unionist, picketers and grass roots leaders who strongly applauded the First Lady. Argentina's main provinces were represented by their governors in the rally, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Chubut, San Juan among others.

Previous to Mrs. Kirchner speech, Deputy candidate for the "Victory Front", Alberto Balestrini addressing the crowd highlighting that the First Lady's candidacy represents a "national project" which consolidates President Kirchner's administration and the governorship of Felipe Solá".

"I'm sure that if we look into the sky we'll see the Argentine flag brighter and Peron and Evita smiling and thinking, "at last someone is following our path"", said candidate Balestrini. Before the act there was a minute of silence for the London attack victims.