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Argentina choosing new president Argentina choosing new president
(9 minutes later)
Argentines are heading to the polls to choose a new president to succeed Nestor Kirchner, who has governed for the past four years.Argentines are heading to the polls to choose a new president to succeed Nestor Kirchner, who has governed for the past four years.
Opinion polls suggest the president's wife, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, could be victorious in the first round. Opinion polls suggest the president's wife, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, could win in the first round.
Her main rivals are a former beauty queen, Elisa Carrio, and Mr Kirchner's ex-Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna.Her main rivals are a former beauty queen, Elisa Carrio, and Mr Kirchner's ex-Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna.
Voters will also elect eight provincial governors, a third of the Senate and about half of the Chamber of Deputies.Voters will also elect eight provincial governors, a third of the Senate and about half of the Chamber of Deputies.
ELECTION ARITHMETIC 27m eligible voters14 candidates running for presidentWinner needs 45%, or 40% plus 10-point leadIf needed, second round on 25 NovemberNew president to be sworn in on 10 December Q&A: Argentine election Candidate profiles Key questions in electionELECTION ARITHMETIC 27m eligible voters14 candidates running for presidentWinner needs 45%, or 40% plus 10-point leadIf needed, second round on 25 NovemberNew president to be sworn in on 10 December Q&A: Argentine election Candidate profiles Key questions in election
There are some 27 million people eligible to vote, with polls closing at 1800 local time (2100 GMT).There are some 27 million people eligible to vote, with polls closing at 1800 local time (2100 GMT).
People have been attending polling stations under sunny skies across most of the country.
After casting her vote in her south Patagonian home town of Rio Gallegos, Mrs Kirchner kissed supporters on their cheeks and declared it was "an important day for the continuation of democracy".
"I'm part of the generation that grew up and couldn't vote for anything," she added, referring to the military dictatorship of 1976-83.
Economy and crime
To win in the first round, a candidate needs to obtain either 45% of the vote, or 40% if they are 10 percentage points ahead of their nearest rival.
Recent opinion polls show Mrs Kirchner with between 39.5% and 49.4% of votes.
Argentines give their views on candidates and issuesIn pictures If she wins, she will be the first woman elected president of Argentina.
The economy and rising crime have been the two main issues in campaigning.The economy and rising crime have been the two main issues in campaigning.
President Kirchner has overseen a return to stability and some prosperity since the economy collapsed six years ago, plunging thousands into poverty, the BBC's Daniel Schweimler reports from Buenos Aires.
But there are fears over how strong the economy really is and general scepticism over official statistics suggesting inflation is under control.
Ms Carrio, the candidate of the centre-left Civic Coalition, is running on an anti-corruption platform and is promising to reduce economic inequality.
Roberto Lavagna and Elisa Carrio are Mrs Kirchner's main rivalsShe has urged the poorest to vote for her in order to take the election to a second round run-off on 25 November.
The other 12 candidates include Mr Lavagna of the centrist Coalition for an Advanced Nation and a well-known free-market economist, Ricardo Lopez Murphy.
Mrs Kirchner's critics have attacked her for failing to outline exactly what her policies are but voters who spoke to the BBC's Will Grant in Buenos Aires said the opposition had failed to offer any real alternative.
Surprise candidate
Just a few months ago, Mr Kirchner was riding high in the opinion polls and looked set to continue for a second four-year term.Just a few months ago, Mr Kirchner was riding high in the opinion polls and looked set to continue for a second four-year term.
However, it was announced in July that his wife, Cristina, the senator for Buenos Aires province, would stand in his place. No explanation has been given. HAVE YOUR SAY The husband wife political swap reeks of corruption and nepotism Brian, New York, USA class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3737&edition=1">Send us your comments However, it was announced in July that his wife Cristina, senator for Buenos Aires province, would stand in his place. No explanation was given.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_argentine_voters/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_argentine_voters/html/1.stm', '1193394904', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Argentines give their views on candidates and issues href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_argentine_voters/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_argentine_voters/html/1.stm', '1193394904', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures Mrs Kirchner was subsequently appointed the candidate for the governing Front for Victory (FPV) and promised to continue his centre-left policies. As candidate for the governing Front for Victory, she has promised to continue her husband's centre-left policies.
The president's wife has consistently led the opinion polls since her campaign began, and most analysts say she will get enough votes in the first round to avoid a second.
To win outright in the first round, a candidate needs to obtain either 45% of the vote, or 40% if they are 10 percentage points ahead of their nearest rival.
Recent opinion polls show Mrs Kirchner with between 39.5% and 49.4% of votes.
If Mrs Kirchner wins, she will be the first woman elected president of Argentina.
Economic concerns
Among the 13 other candidates, Mrs Kirchner's closest challenger is Ms Carrio, the candidate of the centre-left Civic Coalition.
HAVE YOUR SAY I'm 19 years old and this is the first time I have vote for Argentina's president Gimena, Argentina Send us your comments
Ms Carrio is running on an anti-corruption platform and promising to reduce economic inequality. She has urged the poorest to vote for her in order to take the election to a second round run-off on 25 November.
The other main candidates include Mr Lavagna of the centrist Coalition for an Advanced Nation (UNA), and a well-known free-market economist, Ricardo Lopez Murphy.
All three challengers dispute the opinion polls and say the government's official figures on how well the economy is doing do not ring true.
The BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires says Mr Kirchner has overseen a return to stability and some prosperity after the economy collapsed six years ago, plunging thousands into poverty.
However, there are fears over how strong the economy really is and general scepticism over official statistics that say inflation is under control, our correspondent says.
As well as facing comparisons with Eva Peron, Argentina's legendary former first lady, Mrs Kirchner has been compared to former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, who is also a lawyer and senator seeking to become the first elected female president of her country.As well as facing comparisons with Eva Peron, Argentina's legendary former first lady, Mrs Kirchner has been compared to former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, who is also a lawyer and senator seeking to become the first elected female president of her country.
"I don't want to be compared with Hillary Clinton or with Evita Peron, or with anybody," Mrs Kirchner said recently. "I don't want to be compared with... anybody," she said recently.
"There's nothing better than being yourself.""There's nothing better than being yourself."