BUENOS AIRES (voa) – Argentina’s Congress will meet Tuesday to choose a new president following the resignations of interim leader Adolfo Rodriquez Saa, after one week in office, and his expected successor.
Eduardo Camano, head of the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, called the special assembly Monday. He became next in line for succession to the provisional presidency after Senate chief Ramon Puerta refused to take over from Mr. Rodriguez Saa.
Argentina became mired in deepening political and economic turmoil after President Fernando de la Rua resigned halfway through his four-year term amid violent protests against his government’s economic austerity policies. Mr. Rodriguez Saa, chosen to head the government until new elections can be held in three months, resigned Sunday after failing to win the support of leaders of his Peronist Party.
His cabinet resigned on Saturday after angry demonstrations in Buenos Aires by protesters charging the new government included too many officials with a history of corruption.
Argentina is in the midst of a four-year recession that has seen growing street protests, supermarket looting and riots. The government has suspended its foreign debt payments, effectively defaulting on the $132 billion it owes foreign governments and banks.
