Argentina’s ruling Peronist Party voted Friday to cancel the upcoming primary election in a move that increased uncertainty over who would win April’s presidential ballot and how strong their mandate to govern would be.
The Peronist Party congress, in a televised vote, abolished the election that would have chosen one candidate to represent the party in the April 27 election, but a legal challenge could force the party to hold a primary.
A three-judge panel must decide on the legality of the vote to cancel the primary, but no date has been set for the ruling.
Argentine law prohibits parties from presenting more than one candidate for the same post; legal experts expect the courts to overrule the cancellation.
The vote stems from a feud between transitional President Eduardo Duhalde and fellow Peronist and former President Carlos Menem that has split the party into rival factions.
Duhalde supporters voted to abolish the primaries in a bid to reduce the chances of Menem being re-elected.
Menem supporters, who are challenging the congress decision in court, left the meeting without taking part in the vote.
