Don't cry for Menem
It's Néstor Kirchner, Argentina's new president, who has grounds for complaint
OVER his wildly fluctuating career, including a decade as president and many a scandal and probe, Carlos Menem has done his country some services and many disservices. This week, he did it the biggest disservice of all. By pulling out of Sunday's run-off ballot, he has not just run away from the judgment of the voters. He has done his best to deny Néstor Kirchner, Argentina's new president, the popular mandate he so desperately needs if he is to complete his country's recovery from its horrendous financial collapse of 2001-02.
Opinion polls show that Mr Kirchner, a fellow Peronist and hitherto obscure provincial governor, would have won around 70% of the vote on Sunday to Mr Menem's 30%. Now that vote will not take place. Mr Kirchner will take office on May 25th, but the official result of Argentina's 2003 presidential election will be the narrow victory registered by Mr Menem in its first round. When things get tough for Mr Kirchner, as they surely will, Mr Menem will no doubt use this to dispute his legitimacy, and to cause trouble.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline "Don't cry for Menem"
From the May 17th 2003 edition
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