MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Duhalde tosses his hat into the 2011 Argentine presidential election

The former mentor of the Kirchner couple is back and feeling strong

Former Argentine caretaker president Eduardo Duhalde announced on Thursday he is “convinced” to be running for president in order to face Representative Néstor Kirchner in the upcoming Justicialista Party primary elections. He stated: “There are no candidates willing to confront Kirchner.”

In addition, Duhalde explained: “I've always considered that whoever decides to run for president must be highly appreciated by the people. This time, I'm sure: I'm that person. And, of course, I will be taking care of that situation personally.”

The ex president addressed an audience in Necochea (south of Buenos Aires province), within the framework of a congress organized by the Argentina Union of Rural Workers and Longshoremen (UATRE). He highlighted the fact that the elections are to be held in a year and a half.

“I can't see candidates willing to face Kirchner, and I don't think Kirchner himself will dare to face me at elections”, he said. “I’m convinced we are going to win”.

Duhalde one of the strong leaders of the province of Buenos Aires, which has a decisive influence in Argentine presidential elections was Vice-president with Carlos Menem; governor of the province of Buenos Aires several times; presidential candidate in 1999 and later caretaker president following the collapse of the economy and massive default in 2001/02.

However the magnitude of the banking crisis and popular protests at the time against the political system forced him to call elections (May 2003) and won by the man he chose to succeed him: Nestor Kirchner. However Kirchner rapidly took control of the powerful hegemonic Peronist political machinery and dumped his mentor.

The gap between the two leaders never ceased to grow, including when Mrs. Kirchner (and now President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner) defeated Mrs. Chiche Duhalde in the Buenos Aires province Senate race in 2005.

Now as the Kirchner couple has begun to loose grip on political events and their public opinion support has plummeted, --confirmed with a vengeance in June’s mid term elections--, Duhalde the former strongman of the province of Buenos Aires has reappeared on the stage.

Duhalde has good contacts and dialogue with the opposition, the unions and the business organizations.