Polls & Research

First Lady Set for New Victory in Argentina

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many voters in Argentina's Buenos Aires province intend to support the wife of the country's current president in this year's senatorial election, according to a poll by Ricardo Rouvier y Asociados. 52 per cent of respondents would vote for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Hilda González de Duhalde—the wife of former president Eduardo Duhalde—is second with 29.7 per cent, followed by former presidential candidate Ricardo López Murphy with 5.8 per cent. Support is lower for Luis Patti of the Federalist Unity Party (PAUFE), Jorge Rivas of Alternative for a Republic of Equals (ARI), and actor Luis Brandoni of the Radical Civic Union (UCR).

Fernández de Kirchner was first elected to Argentina's Senate in October 2001, representing the Santa Cruz province. The current first lady is seeking a new term in Buenos Aires, home to 36 per cent of the South American nation's eligible voters. Fernández de Kirchner and González de Duhalde are both members of the Peronist Justicialist Party (PJ), but are running on separate tickets. The election is scheduled for Oct. 23.

Néstor Kirchner finished second to former president Carlos 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).

According to existing regulations for senatorial elections, the winning ticket elects two members to the upper house, with the second-place finisher taking a third seat. The poll suggests Fernández de Kirchner and FV running mate José Pampuro would be joined by González de Duhalde in Argentina's upper house.

Polling Data

Who do you think will win the senatorial election in the Buenos Aires province?