MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

When Mrs. Kirchner's resignation became a real option

The tense hours following the stunning defeat of the grain and oilseed export tax in the Argentine Senate have been by far the most demanding moments ever undergone by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner since even her resignation was considered, according to reports in the Buenos Aires press.

Mid morning after the tie breaking vote, Kirchner husband and wife locked themselves for two hours in the Olivos presidential residence to decide on what strategy to follow after vice president Julio Cobos voted in support of the protesting farmers and against her administration. According to the daily "Critica", former president Nestor Kirchner was of the idea that his wife had to resign before accepting defeat, but Cristina apparently considered it wiser to modify course and continue ruling with announcements such as the recovery of Aerolineas Argentinas, which was regained from Spanish investors. While locked in, cellular phones were off, and the residence's staff was ordered to impede any minister or even the closest aide from entering the room. The newspaper quoting reliable sources inside the Olivos residence said that by early afternoon the Legal and Notary Secretary Carlos Zannini had drafted the resignation decree. Simultaneously several "K" leaders began organizing "operation outcry" with the purpose of marching in support of President Cristina Kirchner trying to abort such drastic decision. The idea was for the demonstration and concentration to take place in Plaza de Mayo, which has been witness of most of Argentina's major political events. Apparently the presidential couple had been following the Senate debate together with Zannini, cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez and the head of Intelligence Services Hector Icazuriaga. About three in the morning Mrs. Kirchner went to rest for a while and was back two hours later when it was all over: vice president Julio Cobos had voted against the controversial resolution 125 that had triggered the four months long conflict with farmers. They all left to rest. However at 09:00 in the morning former president Kirchner told his aides: "we're leaving; this government is leaving. They won't let us govern". La Nacion also mentions part of the incident with Mr. Kirchner at all times referring to vice president Cobos as "that traitor", but adds that he then got in contact with several leaders to discuss about future actions. The insistent rumor of Mrs. Kirchner's resignation and uncertainty about what was going on at Olivos had the "K" legislators meeting in Congress from early Thursday and party leaders organizing a network of communications to prevent what they most feared. Finally there were sighs of relief when President Cristina Kirchner close to five in thed afternoon appeared in Government House and later left for the inauguration of an air terminal in Chaco, to the north of Argentina. Writing in his column about the latest events and following on the presidential statements at the inauguration in Chaco where she attacked those who changed sides and voted against, political analyst Joaquin Morales Solá says Mrs. Kirchner seems "to be living in another country". But more important he points out that the Peronist movement "pardons even treason, but never defeat", and President Cristina under the guidance of her husband suffered two knock outs in just 48 hours. The first in Palermo where farmers were able to convene a rally which outnumbered the one organized by Mr. Kirchner three to one, the first time ever in history that the Peronist have "lost the streets". Secondly in the Senate where in spite of the ruling coalition majority of 48 seats, Mr. Kirchner's cajoling only managed to tie at 36. Vice-president Julio Cobos simply confirmed the two catastrophic defeats. Mr. Morales Solá argues that Mrs. Kirchner must immediately renew her cabinet, isolate her husband from presidential politics and find a peaceful understanding with Mr. Cobos, taking advantage of his popularity and standing, to ensure the survival of her administration.