Polls & Research

Cristina Kirchner Could Be Argentina’s President

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The wife of current Argentinean president Néstor Kirchner could become the country's next head of state, according to a poll by OPSM. 48.2 per cent of respondents would vote for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in this year's election.

Former economy minister Roberto Lavagna of An Advanced Nation (UNA) is a distant second with 11.9 per cent, followed by Elisa Carrió of the Alliance Affirmation for an Egalitarian Republic (ARI) with 10.6 per cent, Ricardo López Murphy of Recreate (Recrear) with 4.2 per cent, and former president Carlos Menem with 3.4 per cent. Support is lower for Neuquen governor Jorge Sobisch, former interim president Ramón Puerta, and former legislator Luis Zamora.

Néstor Kirchner finished second to Menem in the 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).

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.

On Jul. 2, Fernández de Kirchner announced she would run to succeed her husband later this year. She will officially launch her candidacy at a rally in La Plata on Jul. 19. The current president was eligible for re-election, but decided to back his wife instead.

On Jul. 10, Kirchner attended the celebration of the Argentinean stock exchange anniversary. During the event, the current president declared: "From the beginning of my term, I had to deal with critics saying mine was a hegemonic project; that I wanted to stay in the presidency forever. (...) I loved being the president, but I'm leaving because I believe Argentina has to build a democratic culture with examples." Kirchner said he thinks his wife is the best choice for voters who want change, because the rest of the candidates "are practically the same than in 2003."

The next presidential election in Argentina is scheduled for Oct. 28.

Polling Data

Who would you vote for in the next presidential election?