Argentina’s Fernandez Loses Buenos Aires, Keeps Congress

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s ruling coalition lost Buenos Aires province, the country’s largest constituency, while keeping a majority in both houses of Congress in midterm elections yesterday.

Sergio Massa, the former cabinet chief who now heads a group of dissident Peronist Party members, took 44 percent of the vote in Buenos Aires province, a 12 percentage point lead, over ruling alliance candidate Martin Insaurralde, with 96 percent of the votes counted. Fernandez’s ruling alliance received 33 percent of votes nationwide, according to the preliminary results. The government increased its majority in the lower house by five seats, Cabinet Chief Juan Manuel Abal Medina said.