Cristina Kirchner set to win Argentinian presidential elections
{{date|October 28, 2007}}
{{Argentina}}
[[w:Cristina Fernández|Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] of the center political front [[w:Front for Victory|Frente para la Victoria]] won over 45% of votes in today's Presidential elections in [[Argentina]], according to exit polls of the national media agencies.
[[Image:Cristina Kirchner vs. Elisa Carrio - Argentina 2007 elections.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cristina Kirchner is set to win the battle against Elisa Carrió to become Argentina's President. {{Image source|[http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br Agência Brasil]}}]]
Elisa Carrió, her main adversary, is predicted to have won some 24% of the estimated 27 million votes. If this would be the case, 'Cristina' would win the elections in the first round, as the Argentinian electoral law states that to win the elections, someone has to obtain more than 40% of votes, and the difference with the next candidate has to be over 10%. The exit polls say the in the province of Buenos Aires, Daniel Scioli has gained more than half of votes.

Voting started this morning at 08:00 local time, and Cristina Kirchner was the favourite candidate to succeed her husband, current President of Argentina [[w:Néstor Kirchner|Néstor Kirchner]], who decided not to run for a second four-year term, without giving any explanation. Mrs Kirchner consistently used her first name during her electoral campaign, just like [[Hillary Clinton]] does in the United States. Clinton is also a lawyer and a senator wanting to succeed her husband as President. But Cristina replied recently: "I don't want to be compared with Hillary Clinton or with [[w:Evita Perón|Evita Perón]], or with anybody... There's nothing better than being yourself."

Mrs Kirchner's husband is very popular because of the successful economic reforms after the economy collapsed six years ago. The current President oversaw steep reductions in poverty and unemployment rates. This was the reason for Cristina's campaign slogan, ''Sabemos como hacerlo'', 'we know how to do it.' However, accusations of corruption have emerged during the last year, and rising inflation rates are becoming problematic, while there are concerns that the government's inflation statistics are flawed. Crime rates have also been a key campaign issue.

Several voting offices had long waiting times and voting was extended for one hour until 19:00 local time (UTC 16:00). There were also various protests because of the lack of voting forms. A spokesperson for candidate [[w:Roberto Lavagna|Roberto Lavagna]], who might become third in the Presidential race, said there was a "systematic lack" of voting forms. Anibal Fernández, Minister of the Interior, said that this was the responsibility of the provincial authorities.

While voting, Mrs Kirchner told the press how important the right to vote was for her, in a reference to the military dictatorship of 1976-1983. "When I was 18 I couldn't vote, so this [voting] is very important... It's important that in the tranquility of democracy, citizens can decide in what kind of country they want to live," Mrs Kirchner said.

Eight new provincial governors and new members for half the parliament and a third of the senate will also be elected today.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=Argentina's first lady launches presidential bid|date=July 20, 2007}}

== Sources ==
{{Translated Wikinews|wiki=es|title=Sondeos indican que Cristina Kirchner ha ganado elecciones en Argentina|language=Spanish}}
{{Translated Wikinews|wiki=es|title=Argentina elige presidente|language=Spanish}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7066776.stm
|title=Argentina awaits election result
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=October 28, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:Argentina]]
[[Category:South America]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]

[[es:Sondeos indican que Cristina Kirchner ha ganado elecciones en Argentina]]
[[es:Argentina elige presidente]]
[[fr:Argentine : Cristina Fernández de Kirchner remporte l'élection présidentielle dès le premier tour]]
[[it:Presidenziali argentine: stravince la Kirchner‎]]
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of the center political front Frente para la Victoria won over 45% of votes in today's Presidential elections in Argentina, according to exit polls of the national media agencies.
Cristina Kirchner is set to win the battle against Elisa Carrió to become Argentina's President. 
Elisa Carrió, her main adversary, is predicted to have won some 24% of the estimated 27 million votes. If this would be the case, 'Cristina' would win the elections in the first round, as the Argentinian electoral law states that to win the elections, someone has to obtain more than 40% of votes, and the difference with the next candidate has to be over 10%. The exit polls say the in the province of Buenos Aires, Daniel Scioli has gained more than half of votes.

Voting started this morning at 08:00 local time, and Cristina Kirchner was the favourite candidate to succeed her husband, current President of Argentina Néstor Kirchner, who decided not to run for a second four-year term, without giving any explanation. Mrs Kirchner consistently used her first name during her electoral campaign, just like Hillary Clinton does in the United States. Clinton is also a lawyer and a senator wanting to succeed her husband as President. But Cristina replied recently: "I don't want to be compared with Hillary Clinton or with Evita Perón, or with anybody... There's nothing better than being yourself."

Mrs Kirchner's husband is very popular because of the successful economic reforms after the economy collapsed six years ago. The current President oversaw steep reductions in poverty and unemployment rates. This was the reason for Cristina's campaign slogan, Sabemos como hacerlo, 'we know how to do it.' However, accusations of corruption have emerged during the last year, and rising inflation rates are becoming problematic, while there are concerns that the government's inflation statistics are flawed. Crime rates have also been a key campaign issue.

Several voting offices had long waiting times and voting was extended for one hour until 19:00 local time (UTC 16:00). There were also various protests because of the lack of voting forms. A spokesperson for candidate Roberto Lavagna, who might become third in the Presidential race, said there was a "systematic lack" of voting forms. Anibal Fernández, Minister of the Interior, said that this was the responsibility of the provincial authorities.

While voting, Mrs Kirchner told the press how important the right to vote was for her, in a reference to the military dictatorship of 1976-1983. "When I was 18 I couldn't vote, so this voting is very important... It's important that in the tranquility of democracy, citizens can decide in what kind of country they want to live," Mrs Kirchner said.

Eight new provincial governors and new members for half the parliament and a third of the senate will also be elected today.


es:Sondeos indican que Cristina Kirchner ha ganado elecciones en Argentina
es:Argentina elige presidente
fr:Argentine : Cristina Fernández de Kirchner remporte l'élection présidentielle dès le premier tour
it:Presidenziali argentine: stravince la Kirchner‎
Argentina South America Politics and conflicts Elections