Argentina update: Governor of Santa Cruz forced to resign
May 11 2007 20:49
BUENOS AIRES, May 10 (Reuters) - A governor and key ally of President Nestor Kirchner resigned on Thursday, a day after more than 20 people were hurt in protests by state workers that have intensified in the Argentine leader's home province.
The demonstrations are posing a stiff challenge to the center-left president five months ahead of Argentina's presidential election.
Protests led by teachers demanding wage hikes -- including a recent nighttime march on Kirchner's house -- have gripped the province of Santa Cruz, where he governed for 12 years and still wields considerable political power.
Kirchner asked Carlos Sancho to step down as the province's governor, Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez said. He will be replaced by a local congressman who is also a Kirchner ally.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets on more than 1,000 municipal workers who joined marching teachers on Wednesday. Eighteen protesters and five police officers were injured, La Nacion newspaper reported.
The wave of protests is "a big embarrassment for Kirchner because it goes at the cornerstone of his presidency: his use of power to show he's in charge," said political analyst Felipe Noguera.
May 11 2007 21:39
#2
Way ahead of you 
Remember K came into power by the scandal over the Masacre de Avellaneda where Maximiliano Kosteki and Darío Santillán where shot at close range by the police retreating from a protest that had been attacked. President Duhalde lied about the incident and said that the various piquetero organizations were fighting among themselves. When the films showing the truth hit the mainstream media, the country nearly revolted yet again and the elections were held early. So, he has to be careful not to be seen to be too directly iinvolved in the current round of repression particularly with national elections coming up in a few months.
May 11 2007 21:45
#3
I'm not really up on Argentine politics, but that is interesting. I seem to remember that the governor in the state where Carlos Fuentealba was killed was up for re-election, any idea if he won or lost?
May 11 2007 22:17
#4
Oh, whats his name,Sobisch, the governor of Neuquen province. He's actually running against Kirchner for president from the right.
May 11 2007 22:19
#5
Politicians are all bad
I'm surprised that that hasn't caused irreparable damage.
May 15 2007 09:09
#6
i'M FINDING It difficult to get info on this mainly cos 'carlos sancho' is as common a name as 'john smith' in spanish-speaking circles. however, rio gallegos is hotting up more than a tad. sobisch iirc is a kinda latin-am equivalent of a CDer
Bloody hell that was quick.
You can edit this into your news article if you like.