ARGENTINA: Argentine presidential campaigns wrap up before Sunday's election with incumbent Cristina Fernandez poised for landslide re-election

Record ID: 346402

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Argentine presidential campaigns wrap up before Sunday's election with incumbent Cristina Fernandez poised for landslide re-election
  • Date: 20th October 2011
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (OCTOBER 19, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GOVERNOR HERMES BINNER ARRIVING TO CLOSING CAMPAIGN VARIOUS OF CROWD CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND SANTA FE GOVERNOR HERMES BINNER SAYING: "On October 23, you have an opportunity within reach, a hope, do not waste it. On October 23, you have two possibilities: We deepen the model, that model in which we have 10,000,000 poor people whose in homes live half of Argentina's children. If we want to deepen that model where 1,000,000 poor people do not study, do not work, if we want to deepen that model in which they think that the retirees can make it to the end of the month. In that model, we do not have capacity for our dreams, fantasies, our happiness, true power or to construct a society of rights that we all want." VARIOUS OF BINNER WAVING TO SUPPORTERS
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina, Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7XFT6OXQMUW7P5LRA8KF6NFKW
  • Story Text: Argentine presidential candidates wrapped up their campaigns on Wednesday (October 19) before Sunday's elections, with incumbent Cristina Fernandez poised for a landslide re-election.
    A center-leftist who has given the state a leading role in the economy, Fernandez has made a dramatic recovery from low approval ratings early in her first term. Polls show she could win more than 50 percent of the vote on Sunday.
    Fernandez's final rally stood on her strong human rights record, a 20-year low in unemployment, and the implementation of popular programs such as obligatory retirement and an increase in spending on education and housing.
    The final rally saw Fernandez backed by everyday Argentines who she says have benefited from improvements made in Argentina, which has one of the world's fattest growing economies.
    She says the changes began in 2003 with her late husband and predecessor as president, Nestor Kirchner.
    "Also, keep in mind that my policies will always be socially inclusive and in defence of the most vulnerable parts of the population, because this is not a struggle for those who are impartial. I'm not neutral. I will always be on the side of those fighting inequality, fighting for more freedom, more democracy, more human rights, for more plurality, for this Argentina we've been able to build with so much effort and for the country that (Nestor Kirchner) gave his life," she said.
    Polls give her a 40-point lead over her nearest rival, Socialist provincial governor Hermes Binner, who has gained a bit of ground since an August primary vote that set the stage for Sunday's election.
    Binner, ahead of social-democratic congressman Ricardo Alfonsin in polls, also closed his campaign Wednesday.
    A moderate leftist, Binner has campaigned on the "warning signs" showing in the country's economic boom and accused the government of being ill-prepared to face global economic turmoil.
    "On October 23, you have an opportunity within reach, a hope, do not waste it," Binner told a crowd of supporters.
    Alberto Rodriguez Saa, a maverick governor and member of the dissident Peronist wing, held his final rally as well.
    "We want to be in second place, we want to go to the second round, we want the presidency of Argentina so we can transform Argentina and bring all fo the good things that we can to Argentina," Rodriguez Saa said.
    Fernandez won 50 percent of votes in the primary, which was effectively a dress rehearsal because all candidates had to take part and none faced competition within their own parties.
    To win on Sunday without facing a run-off, Fernandez needs to win 45 percent of the vote, or just 40 percent with a lead of at least 10 percentage points over the nearest rival.
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