President of Argentina Easily Prevails in Primary Election

[Judi Lynn]

President of Argentina Easily Prevails in Primary Election
By CHARLES NEWBERY
Published: August 14, 2011

BUENOS AIRES — President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner far outpolled her rivals on Sunday in Argentina’s first national primary, suggesting that she is likely to win re-election easily in the vote on Oct. 23.

To avoid a runoff, the winning candidate in October must get at least 45 percent of the vote, or at least 40 percent with a lead of 10 points or more over the closest contender. Early results in the primary indicated that Mrs. Kirchner, 58, had handily exceeded those thresholds, winning 49 percent of the vote. Ricardo Alfonsín of the centrist Radical Civic Union Party was second with 13 percent of the votes, while a former president, Eduardo Duhalde of a conservative faction of the Peronist Party, was third, with 12 percent.

Voting was mandatory, and people could cast their ballot for any candidate regardless of party affiliation.

Mrs. Kirchner, who leads a center-left faction of the Peronists, rebuilt her support after a four-month tax revolt in 2008 by farmers, a major force in the country, pushed her popularity rating below 30 percent. Strong economic growth since then has helped to create jobs, raise wages and allow the government to extend welfare programs. The death of her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner, in October 2010 prompted a tide of public sympathy.

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/world/americas/15argentina.html?_r=1

[Judi Lynn]

1. Fernandez looks set for re-election

Fernandez looks set for re-election
Monday August 15 2011

Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez got nearly half the votes against a divided opposition in a primary, giving her re-election campaign a feeling of invincibility.

Three of the nine other candidates were battling for second place in Argentina's first-ever open and simultaneous presidential primary.

Ms Fernandez had 49% of the votes, Ricardo Alfonsin had 13%, former president Eduardo Duhalde 12% and Socialist Santa Fe Governor Hermes Binner 11% with 25% of the polling places reporting.

The results suggest that unless the opposition unites around a single candidate, Ms Fernandez has a very good chance of winning re-election.

More:
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/fernandez-looks-set-for-reelection-2848174.html

[Judi Lynn]

2. Argentina's Kirchner sweeps primary ahead of election

Argentina's Kirchner sweeps primary ahead of election
Posted: 15 August 2011 0640 hrs

BUENOS AIRES: Buoyed by a strong economy, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner got a boost for her re-election bid by trouncing her rivals in Argentina's open primary election on Sunday, exit polls showed.

Kirchner, 58, a member of the Peronist party and the widow of the late former president Nestor Kirchner (president 2003-2007), has a commanding lead in the vote, held ahead of Argentina's October 23 presidential elections, according to polls cited by local media.

The second most popular candidate was former president Eduardo Duhalde (2002-2003), who is also a Peronist but representing a different faction of the party.

Third was Ricardo Alfonsin, son of the late former president Raul Alfonsin (1983-1989) and a member of the centrist Radical party.

More:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1147056/1/.html

[bemildred]

3. That's what comes of "shameless pandering" to the voting public. nt

[Peace Patriot]

4. LOL! We could use some of that "shameless pandering"!

Jobs.

Social spending that creates jobs, stimulates a Buswhacked economy and creates a future.

NOT firing tens of thousands of teachers, teachers' aides, fire fighters, postal workers, park rangers, police officers, secretaries, court reporters, resource agency inspectors, environmental enforcement personnel, nurses, nurses' aides, janitors, scientists and all manner of government employees--at a time when the hoarded money of the rich is not creating jobs!

NOT cutting the already miserable incomes of the elderly.

NOT raising the tuition at public universities every other month!

NOT squeezing and trimming and downsizing and cutting and slashing education--the future itself!

NOT paying banksters trillions from the public treasury for their crime and malfeasance!

Argentina did the right things--the common sense things--and look at them: From "neo-liberal" basketcase, to...

8% economic growth in Argentina last year. 10% this year!

And similar things are happening all over Latin America where LEFTIST governments have been elected.

I applaud you, Cristina, for your "shameless pandering" to the good your country and I only wish we had some here!

But that is not going to be possible until we do our homework on our vote counting system, like they've done in Latin America. Transparent vote counting makes all the difference! It IS the difference. When people can trust the vote count, they get organized. And when they can't, they get depressed--as here. But that can change. Get rid of the corporate-run 'TRADE SECRET" voting machines (everywhere in the U.S. now), and see if that doesn't make a difference. Believe me, it IS the difference!

[bemildred]

5. Argentine leader: US and Europe hit poor hardest

President Cristina Fernandez said Monday that keeping Argentina's economy growing despite the global consumption slowdown is her top priority as she looks forward to what seems like a certain re-election in October.

Fernandez got just over 50 percent of the valid votes in Sunday's primary, leading her nearest challengers by more than 37 percentage points.

Buoyed by the results, she held her first news conference in more than a year, and vowed to keep Argentina's economy growing strong.

"I've given my heart and soul these four years," she said, thanking her supporters. "The people value the ability of leaders to respond to problems in a crisis."

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1680487