BUENOS AIRES (voa) – Argentine President Eduardo Duhalde is appealing for national unity to help the country rebound from the brink of financial collapse.
President Duhalde delivered a televised speech late Monday, saying all sectors of society should unite to help resolve the country’s economic crisis. Mr. Duhalde also urged fellow Argentines to work toward the elimination of poverty, joblessness, corruption and violence.
The president made his speech flanked by officials from Roman Catholic Church. They say Argentina could experience more social unrest if poverty and hunger are not addressed soon.
One person was seriously injured when merchants angered by the protest clashed with the demonstrators.
The call for national unity follows Friday’s debut on international currency markets of the newly-devalued peso. The currency fell sharply on the open market in trading but held steady on Monday.
The devaluation is the centerpiece of President Duhalde’s plan to chart a new course for the economy, now in its fourth year of recession. Argentina also is struggling with 18 percent unemployment and is in default on its $141 billion public debt.
In a related development, International Monetary Fund representatives arrived in Buenos Aires Monday to examine Mr. Duhalde’s economic stimulus package. Last month, the lending agency withheld $1.3 billion in aid after deciding Argentina was not doing enough to control overspending.
