Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
much disgust for his unilateral foreign policies, invasion of Iraq,
and neglect of Latin America. Kirchner seemed to go out of his way
to snub President Bush during the latter's attendance at the Inter-
American Summit in Mar del Plata in May 2005. The Argentine head
of state even tolerated the anti-American demonstrations in Buenos
Aires led by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. Moreover, Kirchner
maintained effusive relations with other left-of-center and “socialist”
leaders in Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil. This hostility toward
the United States amounted to a reversal of Menem's “carnal” rela-
tions with the United States, and it won favor with the electorate.
After all, Kirchner could get away with having “frosty” relations
with the United States, because the latter accounted for less than
10 percent of Argentina's reviving markets and investments. Finally,
Kirchner had the good fortune of serving during the definitive
revival of the Argentine economy.
As the October 2007 election approached, the president began
positioning his wife, Senator Fernández, as his successor. She
departed on a number of high-profile foreign trips to Venezuela,
Brazil, Mexico, France, and Germany, where she was received as if she
were the head of state. Cristina's candidacy benefited from Néstor's
The inauguration of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner featured the passing of the staff
of office from her husband, outgoing President Néstor Kirchner.
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