Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Presidential contenders have until Saturday for candidacy registry

Presidential contenders have until midnight of Saturday June 25, before the time period for signing up as a presidential candidate expires. Presidential elections are to be held on Oct. 23.

Seven electoral alliances applied for registration last week to enter the Aug. 14 mandatory presidential primaries. But current president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, considered by many a strong contender for the job, is yet to announce her candidacy for a second term. She is expected to do so at the last minute during a political rally in La Plata on Saturday.

The National Electoral Director, Alejandro Tulio, said that the primaries will serve the purpose of disclosing “the political support behind each candidate,” since the law requires that in order to enter the elections both the Presidential candidates and the lists of Congressional candidates must receive a minimum of 1.5% of support of the registered voters in each district.

Tulio added that another purpose of the primaries is to give citizens the right to pick, within each party or coalition, the candidates of their preference. He also expects the political map for the primaries to be completely outlined by June 26th.