MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Alfonsin magic touch could help resurgence of Argentine opposition

Julio Cobos becomes a serious challenge for the Kirchner’s political project

A majority of Argentine feels that the recent death of former president Raul Alfonsin which sparked such spontaneous support for the values enshrined by the “father of democracy” could contribute to the resurgence of the country’s main opposition party to which he belonged, according to the latest public opinion poll published in the Buenos Aires press.

On Sunday Perfil published a poll from Ibarometro showing that 54.3% of interviews believed that the Radical Party could experience a strong comeback and Vice-President Julio Cobos who was expelled from the party in 2007, could be the leader to most benefit from such a tendency following the death of the historic and revered leader.

This is particularly significant since Argentina next June 28 will be holding mid term elections, half the Lower House and a third of the Senate, which according to the electoral calendar should have been held in October but were advanced by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner given the rapid economic and political deterioration of her government.

Mr. Alfonsin an advocate of human rights and democratic values and governance was elected president in 1983, following seven years of one of the bloodiest military regimes in recent Argentine history, and their defeat to the British when General Galtieri ordered the landing in the Falkland Islands in April 1982 triggering the South Atlantic conflict.

The poll shows 19.9% of interviews pointing to Cobos as the figure most benefited from the recent turnout of people to the streets, followed by 17.6% who reply the Radical party and 9.8% Ricardo Alfonsin Jr, the eldest son of the leader.

Cobos is confronted with the Kirchner couple (President and former president) since July last year when as President of the Senate his vote was decisive in rejecting a controversial export tax on grains and oilseeds which was sponsored by the administration.

The poll also indicates that 39.7% of Argentines believe it is “convenient” that the Radical party, the second most important in Congress, should unite bringing back all those leaders who left frustrated by the continuous electoral defeats. However 37.8% believe this option is not viable.

An overwhelming 65.1% said that the massive display and respect for Mr. Alfonsin at his funeral was for “the values he represented”, of which 46.5% chose honesty as his outstanding condition and 22.9% described him as the most outstanding Argentine political figure of the last century.

Apparently one of the most immediate consequences of the April 2 events is that Radical leaders in the province of Buenos Aires have decided not to hold exhausting primaries and agree on a common slate for June.

Another pollster Analia del Franco points out to the fact that in the coming June election the name “Alfonsin” in any slate could have a “magic” response.

Similarly the Buenos Aires political consultant Enrique Zuleta said that “the most valued and strong Radical figure, and in any project for the presidential election of 2011 is undoubtedly Vice-president Julio Cobos”.

Mr. Alfonsin was the first to defeat the Argentine politics hegemonic Peronist movement in a free, open election in 1983. Similarly Fernando de la Rúa in 1999, but both had to leave before the end of their mandates (1989 and 2001), overwhelmed by the challenges.