Lavagna Launches Presidential Bid

Former Argentine economy minister, Roberto Lavagna, has officially launched his bid for the presidency in this year’s October elections. Lavagna, who managed the economy from the start of 2002 until he resigned in November 2005, has criticized Kirchner’s heterodox policy of price agreements as well as the government’s change in methodology to calculate inflation. He has said he believes inflation to be well above official figures. On October 28, Lavagna will face President Kirchner’s wife, Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who last week launched her presidential campaign.