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Voters Pummel Argentina's Power Couple
Kirchners' dynasty may be over as husband loses Congress bid
By Jason Farago
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Posted Jun 29, 09 6:26 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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Voters in Argentina delivered a stinging verdict on President Cristina Kirchner last night, ousting the ruling Peronists from the lower house of Congress in mid-term elections. Her husband, former president Néstor Kirchner, suffered a humiliating defeat in his own bid for a seat. The result makes it unlikely the pair can continue their political dynasty in Argentina's 2011 presidential elections, reports the New York Times.
Néstor Kirchner had hoped to shore up his wife's flagging popularity by running for Congress, but he came up short against a bloc headed by a media mogul who spent millions of his own cash to check the couple's power. While he left office with high approval for his handling of the country's economic meltdown, since then he and his wife have seen their fortunes plummet.