Argentine Congress picks latest president

Duhalde lost the 1999 election to De la Rua, whose term he is now set to complete.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- Congress late Tuesday appointed Sen. Eduardo Duhalde, a seasoned veteran of the Peronist political party, as the latest Argentine president -- the nation's fifth president in two weeks.

Duhalde, 60, is to complete the remaining term of Fernando De la Rua, who resigned in the middle of his four-year term on December 20 amid deadly protests spawned by devastating economic conditions.

Duhalde was approved 262 to 21, with 18 abstentions, after five hours of debate in which lawmakers argued over how long he should remain president.

Congress decided to allow him to serve as president until 2003, forgoing previous plans to hold elections on March 3.

VIDEO Eduardo Duhalde was voted in by Argentina's Congress, making him the country's fifth president in two weeks. CNN's Liz George reports (January 2) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

In 1999, Duhalde lost the presidential race to De la Rua. Now Duhalde is set to finish the term voters gave to De la Rua.

Hundreds of people outside Congress cheered, "Viva Peron!" as the news spread.

The scene was in stark contrast to the one just hours earlier when rock-throwing demonstrators were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas.

Revolving presidential office door

Duhalde takes the reins of a country reeling from an economic recession entering its fourth year that has sent unemployment close to 20 percent, swelled the ranks of the poor to 15 million people and put the country on the brink of defaulting on its $132 billion debt.

He was named president when Eduardo Camaņo resigned after only day in the job, succeeding Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, who abruptly resigned Sunday after one week. Camaņo was named caretaker president until Congress could choose its latest leader.

Earlier, Senate leader Ramon Puerta, who was the constitutional successor, said he did not want the job and held the presidency for less than 48 hours, giving way to Rodriguez Saa.

Rodriguez Saa said Sunday he was resigning because his Peronist party had not supported his efforts to fix the country's economic woes.

Even as he announced his resignation, Rodriguez Saa argued he had done a good job, but was defeated by entrenched powers that did not want him to change the way the country was being run.

"In these seven days, I was able to do what hasn't been done in 30 years in this country," he said.

He pointed out that he suspended payment on the country's external debt of $155 billion, began an aggressive effort to cut government waste and create jobs, and lifted the state of siege in Buenos Aires imposed after the rioting that helped to topple de la Rua.

Long-term change became impossible when all but a handful of governors in the Peronist party withdrew their support, he said.

The fragility of his government became apparent Friday when his Cabinet members offered their resignations amid accusations of corruption and further unrest over the economy.