Argentina: Congress appointed new President

After a day long Legislative Assembly, the Congress elected the fifth President in less than 15 days. The chosen one is Peronist Senator Eduardo Duhalde. The former Governor of Buenos Aires Province has been appointed to complete the constitutional period of former President De la Rua, elected to rule the country until December of 2003. Moreover, legislators voted to nullify the decision adopted only seven days ago to call for national elections in March. Eduardo Duhalde, former Vice - President of Menem between 1989 and 1991when he resigned to be elected as Governor of the major Argentinean Province, expressed in a short speech: "Argentina is bankrupted. There is no money to pay salaries". Besides, called for the national reconciliation among Argentineans to "Start up the country, again". On the other hand, Duhalde made known his intention not to compete for president in 2003. The speech of the new President was received with a spontaneous noisy demonstration of the people who started to beat pots and pans from the balconies and got together in the corners of Buenos Aires' streets to express dislike with politicians. Nevertheless, the strong security measures adopted to avoid attacks to public buildings helped violent protests. Duhalde had lost presidential elections in 1999 against former President Fernando De la Rua, but obtained a significant victory in the last legislative elections when he jumped to the Upper Chamber. Hernan Etchaleco PRAVDA.Ru Argentina