 Das Neves won the support of fellow Peronist, newly elected President Néstor Kirchner, although Kirchner and Lizurume had been close; Das Neves won by 45.6% to 41.3%.His cordial relations with Kirchnerism soured by 2009, however, and Das Neves publicly stated that Kirchner had become "arrogant" and partisan to "dividing and conquering" by way of retaining control over Peronism, adding that, despite the former president's professed support, Kirchner was "not my friend".Das Neves later initiated the privatization of a network of provincially owned public services cooperatives.