Farmers still doubtful

President Cristina Fernández' promise to send the controversial grains tax to a vote in Congress did little to belay the fears of Argentina's farmers. The big question is whether it will be a closed case of "yes" or "no" over the bill or if parliamentarians will be able to debate the measure at the heart of this 100-day dispute between farmers and the Kirchner administration.

Farmers' leaders, like Alfredo de Angeli, insist that if the bill is 'locked' then the whole excercise is pointless, because the Kirchners have a majority in both houses and can easily push it through. What's needed, they insist, is a debate on the issue in which everybody has their say.

The mass Kirchenerite rally is still on for this afternoon, with Cristina as the only scheduled speaker. If she rips into the farmers again - as her husband did yesterday - there's every chance the strike will be back on again tomorrow.