Buenos Aires  - Argentina's Congress voted to move up the date for congressional elections by four months to June 28 as the government seeks to avoid the full impact of the world economic crisis on the ballot box.

The Senate approved the date recommended by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's government Thursday night by a 45-25 vote after a nine-hour debate.

The Chamber of Deputies also approved the measure last week as Kirchner sought to hold the election before the full brunt of the global recession makes itself felt in the South American country.

The Peronist promoted the initiative by saying that her government could better devote itself to fighting the effects of the crisis on Argentina after the earlier vote. In addition, she argued, Argentina could not afford to hold a marathon campaign during such an economic crisis.

Opposition politicians and analysts have said, however, that the move was meant to lessen the losses the Peronists were expected to face.

Opinion polls have showed that the government would see its support diminish in the elections, which would chose half the members of the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the Senate. (dpa)