Argentina-Early election catches Farmers off guard.

The ruling Victory Front yesterday used its majority in the Lower House to pass a bill — to be debated in the Senate, which is also controlled by the ruling party — to bring forward the midterm elections three months, on President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s allegations that the global crisis is threatening governability.

This move is a big gamble by the government and has caught the farmers off guard, as they had plans to elect their own leaders in October.

The opposition claims that the move is only a political manoeuvre out of weakness and that it will do nothing but deepen the consequences of the crisis.

The bill to bring forward the vote to June 28 from October 25 "for one time only" was passed by 136 votes against 109 and eight abstentions last night after more than nine hours of debate.