Latin Leader Quits in Crisis

The interim president of Argentina resigned late Sunday after just a week in office, saying lack of support from members of his own party prevented him from leading his country out of its profound economic and political crisis.

The resignation of Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, who took power after riots brought down Fernando de la Rua, came after a weekend of demonstrations on the streets of this capital city and fighting within the leadership of the ruling Peronist party.

“May God illuminate the path of the future president and may Argentina find once again the path of peace and justice,” Rodriguez said in a speech from his hometown of San Luis, where he served for 18 years as provincial governor.

After a month of upheaval, Argentina lived yet another night of political drama and constitutional crisis. About two hours after Rodriguez made his surprise announcement, the man next in line for the presidency, Ramon Puerta, said he would not take the oath of office.

Puerta, who led the Senate, had sent in his resignation to avoid being forced to take office, said Alejandro Barrionuevo, a spokesman for Puerta. Congress is scheduled to meet within 48 hours to choose a new president.

Rodriguez took power Dec. 23 with an ambitious program to lead Argentina out of its four-year recession. He announced the temporary suspension of payments on the nation’s $132-billion foreign debt and said he would use the money to create 1 million new jobs.

But the caretaker president--who was to hold power only until elections in March--also kept in force one of the most unpopular measures of his predecessor: a $250 weekly limit on bank withdrawals.

Many Argentines were also outraged at some of the men Rodriguez appointed to his Cabinet. Almost all of them were veterans of the Peronist party, and many have been linked to corruption.

Rodriguez was widely seen as a compromise choice between competing factions in the party, a man who would hold office while the party’s heavyweights fought a three-month campaign to see who would be Argentina’s next president.

In his speech Sunday, Rodriguez placed much of the blame for his resignation on Jose Manuel de la Sota, a powerful Peronist governor from Cordoba province who has said he will run in the March elections.

“The wolves and the lobbyists who are running loose have not been able to understand the essence of these new times,” Rodriguez said. Many of the Peronist governors from the largest Argentine provinces, he said, “have withdrawn their support from me, especially the governor of Cordoba, who placed internal party struggles before the interests of the nation.”

De la Sota denied playing any role in driving Rodriguez from office.

“The best thing is that Argentines choose as soon as possible their president,” De la Sota said. “The situation is very critical, and there are many families suffering.”

He was one of eight Peronist governors who declined to attend a meeting Sunday evening with the president to address the nation’s economic crisis. Two hours after the failed meeting, Rodriguez made his surprise announcement.

Rodriguez was Argentina’s third president this year. Violent protests that killed 27 people forced De la Rua to resign Dec. 20, only halfway through his four-year term. Puerta then held the presidency for less than 48 hours, until Rodriguez was named interim leader.

After Puerta declined to take office early today, next in line was Peronist Eduardo Camano, chief of the lower house of Congress, followed by the president of the Supreme Court.

If he accepts the job, Camano will be provisional president for 48 hours. Congress then must appoint an interim leader who must call elections within 90 days.

The turmoil here has been fed, in large measure, by protests among Argentina’s middle class, which has been hit especially hard by the crisis.

“Give us back our money!” protesters shouted as the most recent round of protests began late Friday. “Corrupt politicians, get out!”

As the protests became more violent early Saturday, police fired tear gas and water cannons at one group of demonstrators, who had set fire to some downtown banks.

On Sunday, many residents of Buenos Aires took to street corners and banged pots and pans in a more peaceful protest. Another large group gathered outside the ranch in the coastal city of Chapadmalal where Rodriguez was scheduled to meet the provincial governors.

*

Special correspondent Petit reported from Buenos Aires and Times staff writer Tobar from Stanley, Falkland Islands.