Argentines look for new leaders

Two consumer advocates have generated a substantial following by fighting against the corruption and declining service quality that followed Argentina's massive privatization program in the 1990s. Sandra González, president of Argentina's Association for the Defense of Consumers and Users, and Patricia Vaca Narvaja, president of Argentine Consumers, both enjoy a nationwide reputation by appearing regularly on Argentine television in defense of popular concerns.

Two famous sportsmen have already made the leap into the political cauldron, although both allied themselves to the Peronist Party. Daniel Scioli, a former international powerboat racing champion, served as sports minister under Peronist President Carlos Saúl Menem in the 1990s, while Carlos Reutemann, a former Formula One racing champion, has become a leading Peronist figure as governor of Santa Fe province.

Even a Roman Catholic priest has attracted widespread political support. Father Luis Farinello, whose reputation for fighting injustice is based on his years of charity work among the soup kitchens of Buenos Aires' poorer neighborhoods, is widely touted as a possible mayor or senator. The 65-year-old priest, who now runs a fledgling political party, the Polo Social, ran for senator of Buenos Aires province last year and, despite limited financing, no elected political experience, and an unprofessional campaign staff, he only narrowly lost.

"Farinello has few resources except his humanity and his energy," says Mr. Zuleta. "He's really walked this country, particularly in areas that have been hardest hit by the crisis. He's not constricted by ideological rigidities, and he's simply adored."

But the search for alternatives to the current political elite also has its darker side. In the 20th century, Argentina suffered six coups d'etat and more than 100 attempted coups. Many people fear that the military could exploit the current political vacuum to seize power once again.

Senior staff officers have sought to dampen the fears, but thousands of ordinary Argentines took to the streets on March 24 – the 26th anniversary of the last coup, in 1976 – to mark their opposition to a military takeover.

"It's very risky for an independent candidate to run for president just now," says Zuleta. "The situation is too turbulent, too difficult to control. But a strong independent candidate who became mayor of Buenos Aires, for example, would be in a good position to mount a presidential campaign further down the line."

Desperate to find a way out of their current malaise, Argentines will continue to search for leaders with fresh ideas. Analysts believe, however, that a wholesale change at the top will take time. "A new batch of politicians will evolve over years," says Mr. Redrado. "A country cannot change its entire political class peacefully overnight."

Page: 1 | 2