MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Menem on Mrs. K: “she's s arrogant, full of hatred and rancor”

Defeated Menem has no mercy for candidate Cristina

President Nestor Kirchner administration is “the most corrupt ever in Argentina” claimed former president Carlos Menem in an interview with Chile's El Mercurio.

The interview was done a couple of days after he was defeated in his bid for governor of his hometown province of La Rioja, which he dominated for a quarter of a century. "What we are seeing is rampant corruption. This is the most corrupt government ever in the history of Argentina. Corruption headed by Kirchner and his obsequious entourage. I've requested the Justicialista party discipline tribunal to expel Kirchner and his candidate wife and all those involved in this left wing populism totally contrary to what the Argentine people really want", emphasized Menem who ruled Argentina from 1989 to 1999. Menem described Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the First Lady running for president next October as a woman full of ambitions, hatred and grudges. "She has no conditions to be a candidate. She's arrogant, despiteful and her veins are full of hatred, rancor and a bunch of ambitions that have nothing to do with what we Argentines need in these difficult moments we're facing". The former president went on to say that the current Kirchner administration does not respect democratic institutions, the Armed Forces and security forces are constantly under attack and "if this was not enough now he's after the Church". "The only way out of this situation is impeachment of the President and his cabinet". Menem also said he had no doubts about Venezuelan meddling in the latest corruption scandals that have shocked Argentina and insisted it's not the first time luggage full of dollars (800.000) enters the country undeclared as the frustrated attempt from Venezuelan businessman Antonini Wilson who arrived when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's official visit to Argentina. "Where did that suitcase full of dollars come from? It's not the first time this happens. Argentina's energy company Enarsa which yet has to begin exploring for oil and gas has contracted 18 similar flights. This is just the tip of the iceberg of a scandalous corruption. How many more suitcases with money have entered Argentina? You just have to look at the Venezuelan television to see the extent of the scandal and the permanent coverage of the issue". As to his future following his defeat last Sunday Senator Menem replied with a sober "I will keep working in politics as long as God wishes". However he was very critical of the political campaign in support of the Kirchner administration's candidates in La Rioja. "They flooded the province with gifts, with all sort of white line goods such as cookers, fridges, washing machines, water closets, you name it, plus plots of land and anything they could get hold of, obviously with the Treasury's money. It was a gigantic, phenomenal fraud", said Menem. "At the most we had t-shirts with Menem 2007, sweets, chocolates, pencils, lighters, posters, wall painting, not much more. We did our campaign with virtually no resources, and it wasn't that bad after all". Final results show the La Rioja incumbent governor winning with 41% of the vote, followed by another hopeful, also supported by the Kirchner administration with 27% and finally Menem, 22%. However 24% of registered voters did not show up to vote. But in spite of the results, "I will keep fighting for La Rioja, Argentina and world peace and love among peoples, as I have always done", concluded Menem who on the campaign trail was accompanied by his daughter Zulemita and Nair, in his twenties, a son he only recognized a few years ago but was a success among young followers for his recent part in the "Big brother" television show. Finally it must be said that La Rioja in northern Argentina and with a population of 295.000 is one of the least developed provinces of the country, politically highly patronized and which historically has lived from federal funds, extremely generous when Menem was president, and again extremely generous now with President Kirchner's obsession of wiping out the power base of the former president's family.