A legislative election June 28 will be a vote of confidence or lack thereof in Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who has presided over a quaking economic situation since the onset of the global financial crisis. Originally scheduled for October, the election was moved up because of the crisis — presumably to give the incumbent government a bit of breathing room before the full impact of the crisis hits the country. Argentine legislative elections occur once every two years, and in each election, one third of the 72-member senate and half of the 272-member lower house seats are contested. Those who win in the upcoming election will accede to power in December. The transition could mark a time of political change in Argentina, which will face serious economic challenges as a result of populist policies as well as the global economic downturn.