The Americas

Fernández-Fernández: Argentine pair launch presidential bid

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A supporters of presidential candidate Alberto Fernandez and his running-mate, former President Cristina Fernandez, no relation, holds a banner that show an image of the former leader, during the kick-off political campaign rally,at the Nestor Kirchner Park, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, May 25, 2019. Argentina will hold general presidential elections on Oct 27.(AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Presidential candidate Alberto Fernandez, left, and his running-mate, former President Cristina Fernandez, no relation, greet supporters during their kick-off campaign rally in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, May 25, 2019. Argentina will hold general presidential elections on Oct 27. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

With a message of unity, former Argentine President Cristina Fernández and running mate Alberto Fernández kicked off their election campaign almost a week after the ex-leader stunned the country by saying she was running for vice president.

Many thought Cristina Fernández, who governed Argentina from 2007 to 2015, would head any presidential ticket and the news that she would play the undercard to her and her late husband's one-time Cabinet chief came as a surprise. The ex-president was seen as the main challenger to President Mauricio Macri.

"I felt obliged to do this," Cristina Fernández said to thousands of supporters ia a poor area in western Buenos Aires.

Fernández's decision to only run as vice president has put a more moderate challenger at the helm of the Unidad Ciudadana ticket.