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Argentine President secures political victory

Although his name wasn`t on the ballot, President Nestor Kirchner emerged from Argentina`s midterm elections last Sunday, October 23rd as a winner of sorts, celebrating the Senate victories of both his wife and his sister while his political party more than doubled its power in the Argentine Congress.

He has helped lead Argentina out of recession and into a third consecutive year of economic growth since his presidency began two years ago. In the lower house of Congress, Kirchner`s party increased its seats from 40 to about 100 in the 257-member chamber with last Sunday`s vote.

President Kirchner had characterized the election as a chance for the public to pass judgment on his presidency. A massive economic collapse threw the country into social and political turmoil just before his election, and resulted in mass emigration and financial reforms.