MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cristina Fernandez re-election bid in “inevitable” says cabinet chief

The lady is ‘pure gold’ according to cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner re-election bid is “inevitable” said cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez who nevertheless pointed out it was “premature” to talk about candidates for next October’s presidential election.

In a Sunday interview with “Tiempo Argentino”, a newspaper catalogued as ‘pro-Kirchner’ the minister insisted that “there is no option for another person” to represent the government.

“The only person that guarantees Argentines that their jobs and savings are well looked after is Cristina. This is pure gold, because the Argentine people have suffered too much for too long. In 2001 (when the Argentine economy melted), 150 years of political command was at stake; these things can’t happen again in Argentina”, he emphasized.

“I believe the candidacy of Cristina is inevitable. But when the moment comes we’ll talk about it”.

When asked if in the event of Cristina Fernandez running again should the presidential ticket be completed with someone from outside the ruling coalition, like happened in 2007, Anibal Fernandez said that the president must be supported by someone “who is loyal”.

Fernandez was referring to Vice-president Julio Cobos who has been clashing with President Cristina Fernandez not long after taking office and who is referred to in the Casa Rosada as “the traitor”.

He added that the Argentine government has an “integrating and inclusive” policy, although admitting that if Mrs. Kirchner finally decides to run, “she will have to see who guarantees her that she can count with a person who looks after the country’s interests and not his belly button”.

Even when all opinion polls indicate that Cristina Fernandez is ahead in vote preference for the October election, she still has to decide on her re-election bid.

In Argetnina unless a candidate manages 40% of votes cast and a ten points difference over this runner up, a run off is inevitable.

The political advisors of Cristina Fernandez are still not sure what could happen in a run off when the rest of the spectrum could join forces to attempt and impede her from being re-elected.