MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner's political unity project takes off with Cristina

Critinia Kirchner were officially launched as the Argentine government's presidential ticket

Emphasizing unity by conviction and not necessarily party affiliation Senator Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (Victory Front-Buenos Aires) and Mendoza Radical Governor Julio Cobos were officially launched Tuesday night as the Argentine government's presidential ticket for the coming election next October 28.

President Nestor Kirchner, his entire cabinet as well as pro-Kirchner governors and numerous Greater Buenos Aires mayors were present at the political rally held in a closed stadium in downtown Buenos Aires City and which was attended by 5.000 people. Mrs. Kirchner made her husband's political project identified as "plural concertation" or confluence, the heart of her speech describing it as "essentially federal" and reflecting "on all things that have happened to Argentines in recent decades", and thus the need for a new beginning with more emphasis on unity that affiliation. Actually Mrs. Kirchner's Vice presidential running mate Julio Cobos broke from the opposition Radical Civic Union party and has been named the leader of the "K" governors, that is those who ignoring party instructions crossed the line and joined the government's project. The idea of the political confluence was imposed from the very beginning of the rally with a video with statements from past and long standing leaders from the ruling Peronista party and the opposition Radicals calling for a common project. Governor Cobos in his speech said that "we are people from different political groups that want a different Argentina". The project is made up of "men and women from different social and political background who want to build a common project". "Concertation is not adding up a bunch of militants or affiliates; we're talking of common shared ideas to advance Argentina", added Cobos who could be expelled from the Radicales for disobeying party instructions. Cheered by the crowd who sang her name "Cristina presidente", the First Lady corrected the audience saying it was time to get used to the Spanish gender of president: "presidenta". Approval ratings for Kirchner's administration have been buoyed by years of robust economic growth following Argentina's 2002 financial meltdown. But his popularity has dipped in recent months amid high inflation, energy crisis and corruption scandals. With incumbents barred from seeking more than one consecutive re-election, some have speculated that Kirchner and his wife plan to alternate in power. Cabinet Secretary Alberto Fernandez and tipped to play a leading role under a Mrs. Kirchner administration is drawing comparisons to Eva "Evita" Peron, the charismatic former first lady and second wife of late strongman Juan Domingo Peron. However Tuesday night's rally was held under the shadow of the latest alleged corruption scandal involving a Venezuelan businessman who last weekend tried to introduce into Argentina a suitcase stuffed with 800.000 US dollars traveling in a jet chartered by Argentina's energy company officials. The incident cost the job to the right hand man of Federal Planning minister Julio De Vido, one of Kirchner's closest and most trusted aides. Last July when the name of Cristina Kirchner as presidential candidate was first launched in a political rally under similar circumstances another money scandal overshadowed the event. A bag with cash, almost 65.000 US dollars, was found in the toilet room of Economy minister Felicia Micelli who was forced to resign.