MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Menem forecasts Cristina’s re-election in October but also the end of Kirchnerism

Senator Carlos Menem ruled Argentina between 1989 and 1999

Former Argentine president Carlos Menem (1989/1999) forecasted ‘a hands-down’ victory for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner next October, although he also forecasted that when her four years are up “it will be the end of Kirchnerism”.

Although Mrs Kirchner has yet to announce her re-election bid, “there’s no way to beat Cristina next October”, said Menem who was twice elected and almost managed a constitutional reform that would have enabled him a third consecutive term.

As to the other candidates, Menem said that “the opposition currently does not exist in Argentina because it is too dispersed”.

However once Cristina Fernandez wins the October presidential election and takes office again, she will have “a year and a half of peace”, but then trouble will erupt.

“She will have great difficulties ruling because with no chances of another mandate inevitably the different groups will begin looking for alternative political roads because Kirchnerism will be over”, predicted Menem who is currently Senator.

Regarding the coming election, May 29, in his home province of La Rioja, Menem said the current governor Luis Beder Herrera is the “clear winner”, since the rest of his opponents are “irresponsible and not serious”.

Menem made the statements during a lunch hosted by a provincial Deputy and strong grass roots leader, Oscar Chamía, who is supporting Governor Beder Herrera and President Cristina Kirchner next October.

The former president’s political group in the province, “Loyalty and Dignity” subscribed an electoral agreement for May 2011 with Beder Herrera and local Kirchner forces, by which members of his group will be included in the “official” ballot slab for La Rioja elections.

Menem since leaving office has had ongoing problems with the courts, (he was even arrested for a short period and faces several pending charges), but he has managed to live with them from his Upper House bench and taking advantage of his vote in a tight Senate.