What Happened A surprise announcement May 18 is shaking Argentina's political environment. Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner , who was expected to challenge incumbent President Mauricio Macri, said she will run for the vice presidency of the country in the presidential election in October, and that Alberto Fernandez, the former chief of Cabinet of her late husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, will run for the presidency. Why It Matters Cristina Fernandez's announcement is meant to improve the chances of the Kirchneristas (her populist political group) returning to power after four years of a conservative administration led by Macri, who belongs to the Republican Proposal party.