Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, the country's third president in less than two weeks leaves the leadership of Argentina in the hands of the House majority leader, Eduardo Camano. Rodriguez Saa resigned claiming that his Peronist party had abandoned him. He felt that he was unable to contend with the mounting problems that are facing the country, once of which include being $132 billion in public debt.

"They asked me to do in seven days what hasn't been done in the last 30 years," Rodriguez Saa's said of some of the Peronist parties top leaders.

Rodriguez Saa became interim president on December 23 2001 and was supposed to remain in power untill elections were held on March 3, 2002. He had to take power two days after President Fernando de la Rua was forced to resign owing to protests and looting which were caused by the government's inability to contain an economic crisis and unemployment which is currently more than 18 percent. The riots resulted in 28 deaths.

Senate leader, Ramon Puerta served briefly as president after de la Rua's resignation. However he resigned his post on in order to avoid inheriting the presidency again.

Rodriguez Saa's presidency showed signs of collapse late Friday, December 28 when thousands of people gathered in downtown Buenos Aires demanding that he lift a month-old banking freeze that limits cash withdrawals to $250 a week. They also called for the removal of politicians accused of corruptions from his cabinet. The capital controls were put in place by De la Rua on December 1 to prevent a run on the country's banks that threatened the Argentine peso which is tied to the dollar.

In order to rally political support Rodriguez Saa called a meeting with provincial governors of the Peronist party to discuss key issues, including the March elections. However, only a few of the governors offered their support.

Rodriguez Saa said he had little choice but to resign. He failed to get enough support for his interim administration and the country's problems seemed to be worsening.

Rodriguez Saa will technically remain president until his resignation is formally accepted by a joint assembly of the House and Senate, which is scheduled to meet on the first of the new year. On the same day, Camano has called a special legislative assembly to try and find solutions for this situation that is threatening Argentina's democracy.