Argentina's first lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner late
Sunday claimed victory in the country's presidential election, with
partial results showing that she had won by a large margin.
"We have won amply," Fernandez said in a televised speech hours
after polls closed. "This is a triumph for all Argentines."
Argentina's first lady
and president-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner celebrates at
her campaign headquarters in Buenos Aires, October 28,
2007.
With outgoing President Nestor Kirchner standing beside her, she
made special mention "of the man who is at my side today, and who
has been my companion all my life," and blew her husband a
kiss.
Fernandez also acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead,
saying her victory, "far from putting us in a position of
privilege, puts us instead in a position of greater
responsibilities and obligations."
With results from more than four-fifths of polling stations, the
54-year-old senator had about 44 percent of the vote, compared with
23 percent for former lawmaker Elisa Carrio and 17 percent for
former economy minister Roberto Lavagna.
Under Argentina's electoral rules, Fernandez avoids a runoff
with at least 40 percent and a margin of 10 percent over the
runner-up.
Both Carrio and Lavagna conceded defeat.
"We congratulate (Fernandez) and recognize her victory," Carrio
said in a broadcast speech a little later.
Argentina's first lady
and president-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner? and
President Nestor Kirchner celebrate at their campaign headquarters
in Buenos Aires, October 28, 2007.
Fernandez, of the ruling Victory Front party, is scheduled to
take office on December 10 for a four-year tenure, thus becoming
Argentina's first elected female president.
The first woman in charge in Argentina was Maria Estela Martinez
de Peron, the widow of Gen. Juan Domingo Peron, best known as
Evita. She ruled the nation from 1974 to 1976 following the death
of her husband.
Argentine Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez described Sunday's
general elections as the "most transparent in Argentina's
history."
The election had been programmed to run from 8:00 AM (1100 GMT)
to 6:00 PM local time (2100 GMT) but was extended by an hour in the
capital Buenos Aires because polling stations were late opening and
the number of voters was high.
Argentina's 27.1 million registered voters also cast their
ballots to elect a vice president, 130 deputies, 24 senators, eight
regional governors, 209 regional deputies and 63 regional
senators.
Some 100,000 soldiers and police have been deployed to safeguard
election security, while 80 observers oversaw the transparency of
the process.
Argentina's first lady
and president-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner? and
President Nestor Kirchner celebrate at their campaign headquarters
in Buenos Aires, October 28, 2007.
(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2007)
