Mid-Term Election Win Strengthens Kirchner

President Néstor Kirchner of Argentina has received a vote of confidence from the public in the country’s mid-term elections on Sunday. His “Frente para la Victoria” party and allies made strong gains, increasing seats in the 257-member Chamber of Deputies from 40 to 105 and gaining three more senators to total 17 out of 72. The election provides Kirchner with legitimacy since he won the presidency by default in April 2003 after Carlos Menem withdrew from the race after the first round.