Ex-president Néstor Kirchner today warned that the government "should have an additional responsibility as a result of the economic crisis." The former head of state, who chairs the government-loyalist Peronist party, is running for a seat in the Lower House in the upcoming congressional elections.

"We have to remain cautious and not be too confident, because that might bring us headaches in the future," said Kirchner, husband of his successor, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Talking to reporters during an interview on a local radio, Kirchner downplayed reports claiming the government might lose its majority in Congress following the vote. "We can have a seat more or less, two more or less or three. These are the rules of democracy," he said.

Private polls say the Peronist slate is favourite to win in Buenos Aires province, followed by the dissident Peronists, whose slate is led by Deputy Francisco de Narváez, who is seeking reelection. Margarita Stolbizer, of the Radical party-Civic Coalition would come in third place.