Former Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has announced on Saturday 18th May she will stand as a vice-presidential candidate in national elections later this year. A surprise move as she was widely expected to be the main challenger to President Mauricio Macri. She was perceived as the biggest threat to Mr Macri, although many remain wary of turning back to the leftist who brought in currency controls and raised taxes on farm exports when she was president.
The leading person on the ticket is Alberto Fernandez, who was chief staff in the government of Kirchner’s late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner. Mr Fernandez retained the office for part of Cristina Kirchner’s first term but he left the post after a steep economic crisis took hold. He was then expressing strong critics against her. He is considered a moderate within the broad Peronist political flank.
Mrs Kirchner decision to pursue the position of second-in-command reflects possible doubts over whether she is best positioned to challenge Macri directly in light of a series of looming corruption trials.
Mrs Kirchner has been accused of taking bribes in exchange for public work contracts, but she denies. In separate cases, she faces several formal investigations into allegations of bribery, money laundering and criminal association during her administration and that of her husband. The list goes on and on.
The news astonished some within her own Peronist movement: Former president, Eduardo Duhalde, said he thought it was “a joke” when he first heard.