(10/30/06) -

Argentina’s Kirchner Could Win New Term in 2007

- Public backing for Néstor Kirchner remains high in Argentina, according to a poll by Equis. 57.2 per cent of respondents would vote for the incumbent president in next year’s election.

- Public backing for Néstor Kirchner remains high in Argentina, according to a poll by Equis. 57.2 per cent of respondents would vote for the incumbent president in next year’s election.

Mauricio Macri of Commitment for Change (CC) is second with 15.1 per cent, followed by Elisa Carri³ of the Alliance Affirmation for an Egalitarian Republic (ARI) with 9.3 per cent, and former economy minister Roberto Lavagna with 8.8 per cent.

Kirchner finished second to former head of state Carlos Menem in the presidential election held in April 2003. Menem withdrew from the scheduled run-off after voting intention polls suggested an overwhelming victory for Kirchner, candidate of the Front for Victory (FV).

On Oct. 26, Kirchner appeared to hint that he would not seek a new term declaring, “I hope that on Dec. 10, 2007, when my mandate comes to an end, I will be able to say to Argentines that we are leaving hell behind and entering purgatory in the governance of the country that we all deserve.”

Argentina has held five presidential elections since the demise of an eight-year military dictatorship in 1982. In the event no candidate garners more than 45 per cent of the vote—or reaches a percentage between 40 and 45 per cent with a 10 per cent lead over the closest competitor—a run-off between the two leading candidates must take place.

The next presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2007.

Polling Data

Who would you vote for in the next presidential election?