BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Calling his overwhelming election victory a strong mandate to implement his policies, President-elect Fernando de la Rua vowed to blot out corruption and bring Argentines more jobs and better health care.
With 97.2 percent of the ballot counted Monday morning, official returns showed de la Rua, the opposition leader, with 48.4 percent of the votes. The ruling Peronist party's candidate, Buenos Aires Province Gov. Eduardo Duhalde, had 38 percent. The rest of the votes were split among eight other candidates.De la Rua's victory was seen as a vote for change after the decadelong rule of flamboyant President Carlos Menem, who immediately began to make good on his promise to attempt a comeback in the year 2003 by virtually launching a campaign.
Workers were busy at several Buenos Aires neighborhoods pasting white and blue signs -- Argentina's national colors -- with Menem's photograph and the slogan "Menem 2003. Let's take good care of him. The nation needs him."
De la Rua -- mayor of Buenos Aires and the candidate for the center-left opposition Alliance -- promised to pursue economic policies that do not neglect the poor and needy.