He is more than likely to make Roberto Lavagna, Mr Duhalde's economy minister, his finance minister.

ECONOMIST: Argentina's election

Roberto Lavagna, the economy minister, recently declared that the country's four-year recession is over.

ECONOMIST: Argentina's economy

But the scandal prompted opposition candidate Roberto Lavagna and others to call for a full investigation.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The Chavez & Kirchner suitcase scandal

As expected, Roberto Lavagna remains economy minister, but will also absorb the production ministry set up by Mr Duhalde.

ECONOMIST: Continuity amid hints of change

His trump card was to announce that he would retain Roberto Lavagna, Mr Duhalde's economy minister, who last year hauled the economy back from the brink of hyperinflation.

ECONOMIST: Argentina's presidential election

Mr Kirchner's likely opponent in the election is the man who can claim the greatest credit for the recovery: Roberto Lavagna, whom the president sacked as economy minister late in 2005.

ECONOMIST: The Americas

Roberto Lavagna, a leading Argentine economist, backs this point.

ECONOMIST: Brazil rocks the Mercosur boat