MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

March begins with an electoral setback for the Kirchners

Governor Eduardo Brizuela

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her husband, former president Nestor Kirchner seem to have suffered on Sunday their first electoral setback of the year, more precisely in the northern province of Catamarca where they openly campaigned in support of the local opposition.

Even when Catamarca is an impoverished province and the electoral roll includes 245.000 voters the fact that the president, the former president and several cabinet ministers strongly campaigned gave the dispute a national projection, which at midnight Sunday with over 70% of votes counted, showed the incumbent leading comfortably (at least ten points) and Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo admitting “we’re a few points behind”.

At stake were 76 seats, 21 and 8 provincial deputies and senators respectively and the rest council members, but the big battle was between the governor Eduardo Brizuela supported by the opposition Radicales and vice president Julio Cobos (whom the Kirchners’ loath for his decisive vote during the dispute with farmers), and the provincial opposition backed by the Kirchners and all the resources of the federal government.

“If victory consolidates it will be an acknowledgement of governor Brizuela’s performance and dedication”, said Cobos. Governor Brizuela said he dedicated victory to “all Argentines, because this is a triumph for democracy, solidarity and social inclusion”.

He further added that “to all those who made it a national election by bringing the cabinet I’m telling them there was no need to open any gateway, come in through the big door and work with us, with all the people of Catamarca”.

The head of the federal opposition Gerardo Morales from the Radical party was cautious: “Nestor and Cristina Kirchner together with cabinet ministers should read this result as the way Argentines will express themselves if they don’t change course, put an end to permanent confrontation and begin to rule for all”.

“Whatever the final result I beg you not to discriminate (financially) against the governor or the people of Catamarca, for having openly expressed their opinion in the polls”, he added.

If with the final vote count Governor Brizuela at provincial level and at federal level Morales, together with their ally Vice-president Cobos confirm victory, the setback is the worst message possible for the Kirchners who face a year of mid term elections.

A third of the Senate and half the Deputies seats will be renewed next October and the latest crucial votes in Congress showed the ample margin of the Kirchners has dwindled considerably in the Lower House and no longer exists in the Senate. Furthermore one of three Senators from Catamarca (who voted for government in the farmers’ dispute) and is a long respected leader from the north of Argentina is expected to join the ruling party dissidents’ grouping.