Driven from power by a devastating economic crisis and deadly riots, outgoing President Fernando De la Rua returned to his offices for a last time yesterday to await the handover to a caretaker government.
Looking somber in a dark suit, De la Rua arrived at the Casa Rosada, or Government House, and lashed out at the opposition Peronists for failing to join him in a government of "national unity."
"The Peronists made a mistake," said De la Rua, saying their refusal to join him in a reorganized government as he had requested Thursday had hastened events that triggered his downfall.
Technically, De la Rua remained president until his resignation could be formally approved by Congress later yesterday. He said he wanted to cancel a state of siege he imposed Wednesday. "I would like that to be my last act in government," he said.
Facing riots and unrest that have since claimed 22 lives, De la Rua took up the emergency powers to forbid public gatherings and grant security forces greater powers of arrest.
De la Rua resigned late Thursday and flew from the government palace in a helicopter, driven out by deepening economic troubles, riots in the capital and looting of homes and supermarkets across Argentina.
It was Argentina's worst unrest in a decade, but the protests had largely subsided late Thursday in the capital though looting continued nationwide.
Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of anti-government protesters in the runup to his fall. Rioters looted houses and stores in other cities, and more than 200 people were injured nationwide.
"I'm delighted he's finally gone. Thank God!" said Maria Andrejuk, who was among those celebrating after tensions eased across much of Buenos Aires. But as night fell Thursday, some looting persisted.
* President Fernando De la Rua, one of the most unpopular leaders in Argentine history, resigned due to the country's unprecedented economic and political crisis.
* Rioting has claimed the lives of 22 people and injured more than 200.
* The nation is nearing default on US$132 billion of debt.
Source: ap and reuters
Now Argentina's faltering economy awaits the hands of a caretaker government led by the party founded by strongman Juan Peron in the 1940s. The Peronists, who hold a majority in both the Lower House and Senate, will take their turn at trying to tame a crisis that has left the country perilously close to defaulting on its US$132 billion debt burden.
Senate Leader Ramon Puerta was in line to take over yesterday as interim president until a special legislative assembly decides whether to call new elections within months.
Puerta said yesterday he wished only to hold the presidency temporarily -- for 48 hours -- while Congress decides whether to call new elections.
"I've never held a post for which I have not been elected," Puerta told reporters.
"But I will fulfill my duties to the republic in these very difficult moments."
That means Congress must now either select one of Argentina's powerful provincial governors or a member of Congress to take over or call snap elections, analysts say.
They include charismatic for-mer Peronist President Carlos Menem, the most important Argentine politician of the last half century. His privatization drive opened Argentina up to foreign investment, but his legacy was smeared by corruption accusations that he is still battling.
Peronist provincial governors Carlos Ruckauf and Jose Manuel de la Sota, a favorite of foreign investors, are both seen as potential contenders, as is Peronist Senator Eduardo Duhalde -- who also served as vice president under Menem.
Many Peronist leaders said they favored calling new elections in no less than 60 days.
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