Buenos Aires - An Argentine judge has ruled that President Carlos Menem can compete to be Peronist candidate for the 1999 election despite a constitutional ban on presidents serving three consecutive terms, Mr Menem's office said yesterday.
Federal Judge Ricardo Bustos will continue to consider the larger question of whether Mr Menem (68) would actually be allowed to compete in the presidential election. Mr Menem's arch rival for control of the Peronist Party reacted with fury at the ruling.