Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Trials & Tribulations of Cristina
When Néstor Kirchner stepped aside in July 2007 in favor of his wife's candidacy for the
presidential race, many started wondering: would 'Queen Cristina' (as she's often called
due to her regal comportment) be just a puppet for her husband, who intended to rule be-
hind the scenes?
In the October 2007 presidential election, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner succeeded in
her ambition to move from first lady to president. Weak opposition and her husband's en-
during clout were some of the reasons for Cristina's clear-cut victory, despite the lack of
straightforward policies during her campaign. While this was not the first time Argentina
had had a female head of state (Isabel Perón held a brief presidency by inheriting her hus-
band's term), Cristina was the first woman to be elected president by popular vote in Ar-
gentina. As a lawyer and senator she has often been compared to Hillary Clinton; as a
fashion-conscious political figure with a penchant for chic dresses and designer bags, she
also evokes memories of Evita.
Cristina's tumultuous presidency has been laced with scandals, unpopular decisions and
roller-coaster approval ratings. In March 2008 she significantly raised the export tax on
soybeans, infuriating farmers, who soon went on strike and blockaded highways. In June
2009 Kirchner's power base was shattered during the mid-term elections, when her ruling
party lost its majority in both houses of Congress. Soon after, she enacted an unpopular law
set to break apart Clarín, a media conglomerate that often reflected unfavorably on her
presidency. All the while, Argentina has been hounded by inflation that has been unoffi-
cially estimated at up to 25%.
Her presidency has seen some positive sides, however. The economy grew strongly dur-
ing the first part of her tenure, bolstered by high consumer spending and strong demand for
the country's agricultural exports and manufactured goods. In a true Peronist vein, Cristina
implemented a wide range of social programs to beef up the pension system, benefit im-
poverished children and help fight cases related to crimes against humanity. And in July
2010 she signed a bill that legalized same-sex marriage in Argentina, making it Latin
America's first country to do so.
On October 27, 2010, Cristina's presidency was dealt a serious blow when Néstor Kirch-
ner died suddenly of a heart attack. As Néstor was expected to run for the presidency in
2011, this was widely seen as a disaster for the Kirchner dynasty. But the country rallied
around Cristina's sorrow, and her popularity in early 2011 remained high enough that she
ran for office again and was easily re-elected. She had run on a platform that appealed to
the populist vote, promising to raise incomes, restore industry and maintain Argentina's
