MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tierra del Fuego governorship goes for a Cristina Fernandez ally

Last Sunday, Bertone won the first round of voting after mustering 42.26% of the votes against the 34.24% Sciurano.

President Cristina Fernandez Victory Front candidate for Tierra del Fuego Rosana Bertone will be the next governor of the province, after rival Federico Sciurano conceded defeat in the race to succeed Fabiana Ríos. With 70.9% of ballot stations counted Victory Front senator Bertone led with 50.1% of votes compared to 46.52% for Sciurano, from the opposition led coalition.

 More than 132,000 people were eligible to vote in the runoff to decide the extreme south province's next governor, with both the FpV's Bertone and Sciurano of the UCR turning out to cast their ballot early amid chilly conditions.

Last Sunday, Bertone won the first round of voting after mustering 42.26% of the votes against the 34.24% Sciurano.

Bertone, who was openly backed by Kirchnerite presidential hopeful Daniel Scioli, was unable to avoid a runoff election since she failed to pass the 50% threshold.

Tierra del Fuego Governor Fabiana Ríos, a progressive leader who stayed close to the national government, anticipated she would not endorse any of the two candidates.

Roberto Crocianelli, from the ruling Partido Social Patagónico finished last Sunday fourth with 4.73% of the vote. Crocianelli, who is Ríos’ lieutenant-governor, stood in the elections to replace her. The governor is not allowed to run for a third term.

Bertone, who used to have a traumatic relation with the Kirchnerite administration and even opposed to the same-sex marriage bill passed in 2010, was backed by President Cristina Fernández last week. This was the second time Bertone runs for governor. In 2011, she was defeated by Ríos in a runoff

The Casa Rosada wants to bag a gubernatorial victory a week ahead of the Buenos Aires City election for mayor since Argentina's capital represents a difficult electoral district for Kirchnerism.