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Argentina votes in key test for Cristina Fernandez Vote count under way after Argentina mid-term elections
(about 9 hours later)
Voters in Argentina are going to the polls in a key test for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. People in Argentina have voted in a mid-term Congressional election widely seen as an important test for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
The mid-term elections will determine how much control the left-leaning leader will have during the final two years of her presidency. Exit polls suggest the opposition has won key seats in the province of Buenos Aires.
Ms Fernandez has been out of action during the campaign following emergency brain surgery earlier in October.Ms Fernandez has been out of action during the campaign following emergency brain surgery earlier in October.
She is currently constitutionally barred from running for a third term in office.She is currently constitutionally barred from running for a third term in office.
More than 75% of the electorate took part in the polls, said the country's Interior Minister, Florencio Randazzo.
He said voting had been peaceful and orderly.
It was the first time 16 and 17-year-olds could vote.
Opposition candidates from the Renewal Party led by the president's former chief of staff, Sergio Massa, were leading by a wide margin in the province of Buenos Aires.
Mr Massa, currently the mayor of the wealthy town of Tigre, split from Ms Fernandez party.
He is seen as a possible presidential contender in 2015.
Many see Sunday's elections as the start of the race to replace her.Many see Sunday's elections as the start of the race to replace her.
New facesNew faces
Voters will choose 127 members of the 257-strong Chamber of Deputies and a third of the Senate's 72 members. Voters have been choosing 127 members of the 257-strong Chamber of Deputies and a third of the Senate's 72 members.
Correspondents say that if her Front for Victory (FPV) party fares badly, it may signal an end to more than a decade of Kirchner family rule in Argentina. Correspondents say that if the president's Front for Victory (FPV) party fares badly, it may signal an end to more than a decade of Kirchner family rule in Argentina.
Ms Fernandez's late husband Nestor ran the country between 2003 and 2007, when he was succeeded as president by his wife. She was then elected for a second term in 2011.Ms Fernandez's late husband Nestor ran the country between 2003 and 2007, when he was succeeded as president by his wife. She was then elected for a second term in 2011.
The BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes in Buenos Aires says Argentina is already looking for new faces to lead the country.The BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes in Buenos Aires says Argentina is already looking for new faces to lead the country.
Although Ms Fernandez's party is still strong on a nationwide level, high inflation, insecurity and currency controls have weakened its support among middle class families.Although Ms Fernandez's party is still strong on a nationwide level, high inflation, insecurity and currency controls have weakened its support among middle class families.
Former cabinet chief Sergio Massa is ahead of her candidate Martin Insaurralde in the key province of Buenos Aires, our correspondent adds. Mr Massa says he wants to put an end to Kirchner family rule when he runs for president in two years.
Mr Massa, currently mayor of the tourist town of Tigre, says he wants to put an end to Kirchner family rule when he runs for president in two years. He was elected mayor of the town of Tigre as a member of the Front for Victory, but left the party in June 2013 to establish the Renewal Front.
He was elected mayor as a member of the Front for Victory, but left the party in June 2013 to establish the Renewal Front.
Currently, the constitution limits the number of consecutive presidential terms to two, and a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament would be needed to amend it.Currently, the constitution limits the number of consecutive presidential terms to two, and a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament would be needed to amend it.
But the August primaries indicated that Ms Fernandez may struggle to keep control of Congress, let alone build up a two-thirds majority.But the August primaries indicated that Ms Fernandez may struggle to keep control of Congress, let alone build up a two-thirds majority.
Ms Fernandez was told by doctors earlier this month to stop her congressional election campaign after having surgery to remove a blood clot on her brain following a head injury in August.Ms Fernandez was told by doctors earlier this month to stop her congressional election campaign after having surgery to remove a blood clot on her brain following a head injury in August.