Tuesday January 1 2:38 AM ET
By LAURENCE NORMAN, Associated Press Writer
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentina entered the New Year with an economy near exhaustion, an angry public, a new caretaker president and feuding lawmakers working to pick a fifth leader in two weeks.
Already grappling with a deep financial crisis, Argentina was plunged into political turmoil when President Fernando de la Rua stepped down Dec. 21 - leaving the government house from the roof in a helicopter - after two days of protests and looting that left 28 people dead.
Eleven turbulent days later, Congress was set to meet Tuesday to choose a new president - again. The one lawmakers first selected to serve until new elections in March, Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, quit Sunday after failing to secure the backing of his own Peronist political party.
Two other men have also served briefly as acting president since de la Rua's resignation, both reluctantly. Former Senate leader Ramon Puerta inherited the job when de la Rua quit, and Chamber of Deputies leader Eduardo Camano took over Monday from Rodriguez Saa.
He called for Congress to meet Tuesday to formally accept Rodriguez Saa's resignation and appoint a successor.
With unemployment hovering around 18 percent and the economy at a near standstill, lawmakers said they had little time to spare. They also sigexpect a change for the better.
“We'll have to wait and see but I don't have a lot of faith in any of these leaders right now,” Antony said. “Let's just hope for a Happy New Year without violence and with some solution for the problems we're facing.”