Argentina choosing new president

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has consistently led the opinion polls

Argentines are heading to the polls to choose a new president to succeed Nestor Kirchner, who has governed for the past four years.
Opinion polls suggest the president's wife, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, could be victorious in the first round.

Her main rivals are a former beauty queen, Elisa Carrio, and Mr Kirchner's ex-Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna.

Voters will also elect eight provincial governors, a third of the Senate and about half of the Chamber of Deputies.

There are some 27 million people eligible to vote, with polls closing at 1800 local time (2100 GMT).

The economy and rising crime have been the two main issues in campaigning.

Just a few months ago, Mr Kirchner was riding high in the opinion polls and looked set to continue for a second four-year term.

However, it was announced in July that his wife, Cristina, the senator for Buenos Aires province, would stand in his place. No explanation has been given.

Mrs Kirchner was subsequently appointed the candidate for the governing Front for Victory (FPV) and promised to continue his centre-left policies.

The president's wife has consistently led the opinion polls since her campaign began, and most analysts say she will get enough votes in the first round to avoid a second.

To win outright in the first round, a candidate needs to obtain either 45% of the vote, or 40% if they are 10 percentage points ahead of their nearest rival.

Recent opinion polls show Mrs Kirchner with between 39.5% and 49.4% of votes.

If Mrs Kirchner wins, she will be the first woman elected president of Argentina.