Embarrassment for Kirchner

Two members of President Nestor Kirchner's cabinet may fall from grace this week. Economy Minister Felisa Miceli and Environment Secretary Romina Picolotti could be forced to resign after judicial investigations into allegations of illicit conduct were launched last week.  Kirchner has confirmed Miceli in her post, although new claims may make her position untenable; Picolotti seems to have few defenders and appears almost certain to step down. 

Kirchner has shielded members of the cabinet from corruption claims in the past, but the resignation of one or both embattled functionaries could deflect criticisms that he has taken a far less active approach to corruption than promised.  However, the negative publicity will be especially unwelcome in the run-up to the October presidential elections, for which his wife Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's candidacy has just been announced, and in a context of rising inflation and a looming energy crisis.