Buenos Aires
Former Argentine president Carlos Menem led 18 candidates in Argentina’s presidential election this week, but failed to win enough votes to avoid a May runoff. It was a remarkable turnaround for the flashy 72-year-old, who 18 months ago spent time under house arrest during an investigation of alleged illegal arms sales. Menem, with 24 percent of the vote, said he would “triumph resoundingly” in the runoff. But many expect provincial governor Nestor Kirchner to win. He trailed Menem by a hair, but stands to gain ground in the second round. Polls say a majority of voters share a distaste for the ex-president, who left office in 1999 as the nation spiraled into recession. “Why can Argentina not be rid of this man?” asked voters.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
