By Peter Greste BBC correspondent in Buenos Aires

Argentina's new President-elect, Nestor Kirchner, has met the current economy minister, Roberto Lavagna, in the first step toward piecing together his government.

Mr Kirchner was denied the chance for electoral triumph

Mr Kirchner won the presidency by default when his rival, Carlos Menem, withdrew from the race on Wednesday.

His first task will be to heal the deep wounds left by the electoral battle, and he has not a moment to waste.

In just a little over a week he is due to slip on the presidential sash and before that he has to form a cabinet, but that also means dealing with the vast rift caused by the election between himself and his rival, Mr Menem.

Both are from the same party, the Peronists and the fierce election fight tore it in two.

It will not be an easy job.

Because Mr Menem withdrew from the election and denied his rival a clear popular mandate in the run-off vote, Mr Kirchner has only the express support of the 22% of the population who backed him in the first round.

TV toast

His first step was a meeting with the current economy minister, Mr Lavagna, who is to stay on in his job.

It is a move designed to settle the public and the markets who have credited him with rescuing the country from last year's economic freefall.

The second step was an appearance on a popular daytime television talk show where he toasted the people of Argentina.

But they may already be swinging behind him.

An opinion poll released on Thursday gave Mr Kirchner 46% support, easily making him already the country's most popular politician.