Development: On 8 May, the governor of the Argentine province of San Juan, José Luis Gioja, won a referendum (65.96% to 34.04%) that enables him to reform the provincial constitution to run for a third consecutive term.

Significance: San Juan has now joined Salta as one of two provinces where the governor can serve three consecutive terms in office; Gioja's reference to former president Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007) - who reformed the constitution of Santa Cruz province to allow for indefinite re-election- as his inspiration for the reform in San Juan is unlikely to sit well with either the opposition or the Cristina Fernández administration which is actively trying to deny it would seek a constitutional reform proposed by members of the ruling Frente para la Victoria (FPV) to allow for Fernández's indefinite re-election should she secure a second term on 23 October.

Key points:

• On 5 May, in response to the call from a supporter who asked her to stay in power for another 10 years, Fernández said: "no, that's too much...I think my body would give in"; the opposition quickly flagged up the fact that Fernández did not point out that she is constitutionally barred from seeking more than one consecutive re-election.

•  "I told the president...that when I took the most difficult decision in my life, which was to send the [constitutional] reform proposal to congress, I followed the example of a fighter and of a bloke [sic] who gave his life for his ideals, and who never left his convictions aside each time he ruled:...Néstor Carlos Kirchner", said Gioja.

• "I don't have a knife underneath my poncho. This is a political decision to give continuity to the project for one more term... I am not going to perpetuate myself in power; I'm 61 and I don't plan to go to the government palace with a walking cane", declared Gioja yesterday. His reassurances failed to wash with his critics however, given that in 2008 he had said he wouldn't seek the constitutional reform he has just secured.