Argentine President Cristina Fernandez waves to supporters after casting her vote in a polling station in the Patagonian city of Rio Gallegos, October 23, 2011. (Credit: REUTERS/Andres Stapff)
The result marks a dramatic change of fortunes for a leader who some critics once said might have to leave power early as angry protests by farmers and middle-class voters battered her approval ratings soon after she took office.
With votes in from 96% of polling stations, Fernandez had almost 54% of the vote with a massive lead of 36 percentage points over her nearest rival, socialist candidate Hermes Binner.
No Argentine leader has won such a big share of the vote since General Juan Domingo Peron was elected for the third time with 62% in 1973.
(Reuters)
