Crowd cheers Argentina ex-leader Cristina Fern谩ndez

Image source, EPA

Image caption, A large crowd of about 50,000 people gathered to hear the ex-president launch a new party

Tens of thousands of people cheered former Argentine President Cristina Fern谩ndez de Kirchner in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

Ms Fern谩ndez, 64, launched a new political party, Citizen's Union, ahead of legislative elections on 22 October.

The move has triggered speculation that she will run for a senate seat in the midterm poll.

The ex-president has until Saturday to decide. Supporters shouted "Cristina for senator!".

One-hundred-and-twenty-seven seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 24 in the Senate will be up for election.

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Despite allegations of corruption against her, Ms Fern谩ndez remains very popular with her supporters

Ms Fern谩ndez governed from December 2007 until December 2015, when Mauricio Macri defeated the candidate she backed.

Since leaving office, Ms Fern谩ndez has been a vocal critic of President Macri and his pro-business policies, in particular budget cuts.

She has also been battling corruption charges. She is under investigation in connection with three different corruption cases and faces trial over alleged financial mismanagement during her time in office.

Ms Fern谩ndez says the charges against her are politically motivated.

It had been widely expected that she would reveal at Tuesday's event whether she would return to front-line politics, but despite the cheers of her supporters, she would not be drawn.

Saturday is the deadline to register for primaries due to be held on 13 August.