From president to accused of corruption: a review of Cristina Kirchner’s career

A day like today, but in 2007, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner replaced her husband, Néstor Kirchner, and became the first president of Argentina elected by direct vote. Now, fifteen years later, she has just been sentenced for corruption.

How was the rise of one of the most controversial Argentine leaders in recent years?

Last Tuesday, it was announced that Cristina Kirchner -as it is also known- was convicted of “irregularities in the concession of road works during the Kirchner governments (2003-2015)”. In addition to the request for six years in prisonalso required perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The EFE news agency explains that, as a result of the Cause Roadthe judges determined that Kirchner fraudulently managed public funds. Likewise, they dismissed the accusation of illicit association.

A diametrically different panorama from the one he experienced in 2007.

women to power

Cristina Kirchner she specified the path that other Argentine women paved the way for. Eva Peronfor example, demonstrated its political weight without the need to “hold public office”. Infobae remembers that she “could have become the first vice president”, but who gave up the task.

It was followed in 1974 by Maria Estela Martinez. After the death of Juan Domingo PeronMartinez became “the first woman in the world to access a Presidency”. She didn’t have it easy. The outlet notes that although she was part of Perón’s formula, she had no experience in politics. Also, “He had to govern a nation shaken by violence, an unprecedented economic crisis and an institutional collapse”.

When it was Cristina’s turn, the world was different.

Then, Michelle Bachelet was already president of Chili. And she wasn’t the only one:Finland, India, Ireland, Liberia, the Philippines and Switzerland” were also governed by women, while “Germany, New Zealand, Mozambique and the Netherlands Antilles” were led by female prime ministers.

It was in this context that, on October 28, 2007, Cristina Kirchner and the Alianza Frente para la Victoria win the presidential elections with 46.1% of the votes.

The victory was overwhelming. Deutsche Welle points out that Cristina took advantage of him “of more than 20 percent over the second favorite candidate, Elisa Carrió”. Roberto Lavagna was in third place with 17.3%.

On December 10, she took office.

turbulent governments

Among the measures that Cristina took in her first government, the nationalization of private retirement funds and the universal child allowance. Also nationalized Aerolíneas Argentinas.

According to the “News” portal, the international economic crisis of 2008 It would hit her second term very hard – she was re-elected in 2011 with 54.11% of the vote. “The high deficit of the public accounts (where social aid and energy subsidies still prevail) emptied the reserves at the same time that the monetary issue increased, promoting devaluation and inflation.n”, writes the medium.

What followed were protestsamong which is remembered the one of November 12, 2012 for the “restrictions on imports and the purchase of dollars”. The problems would get worse cut of the payment of the foreign debt.

Meanwhile, it was known death of prosecutor Alberto Nismanwho denounced herfor the alleged cover-up in the investigation of the attack on the AMIA”.

From there, Cristina Kirchner she had to wait until 2017 to return to the political arena, when she was elected senator of the province of Buenos Aires.

After evaluating her possibilities, the leader allied herself with Alberto Fernandez and together they presented themselves as a formula president-vice president. Both prevailed with 48% against the still former president Mauricio Macriwho only reached 40%.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.