CFK confirms Amado Boudou as running mate

“It’s the man who will accompany me to face the people’s will,” President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner assured after she announced the current Economy Minister, Amado Boudou, as her running mate for October’s election.

The Head of State highlighted his loyalty and his respect to the institutions and added that she needs “someone by my side that does not fear the corporations” and “that knows the model.”

“The most important thing is not to have had the same orientation during our whole lives, but knowing when the world changes,” she continued.

Boudou, appointed as economy minister in July 2009, has emerged as one of Fernández de Kirchner's most loyal cabinet ministers. In his previous job as head of the state pensions body, he won her trust when she nationalized private pension funds in 2008.

"He's a person who's been loyal to this president," Fernandez said in a televised speech, praising Boudou's stewardship of the economy.

Boudou is likely to have backing in different sectors of Fernandez's support base, including the trade unions and younger members of her Peronist party who have risen to prominence in the past year.

Since the President announced her seeking re-election, there has been great speculation and debate over who she will choose as her running mate.

Over the last 24-hours, the President has held meetings with directors from the Justicialist Party (PJ) and some provincial governors, given that the list of national candidates for legislative roles presented by the Victory Front for the national elections is yet to be announced.