Emil Dabagyan: Test for the first lady

In Argentina - one of the largest Latin American countries - the elections of the head of state are approaching. They are scheduled for October 28, 2007. The peculiarity of the current campaign was that, up to its start, the intrigue was preserved: who will become the obvious favorite - the current president Nestor Kirchner or his wife. The issue was resolved literally at the last moment. After long fluctuations, on July 19, at the peak of an unusually cold for this latituding winter, the ruling Khustisialist (peronist) party nominated Christina Fernandez as its candidate. This was a kind of landmark event.

To understand the essence of what happened, it is necessary to make a brief excursion into a recent history. Nestor Kirschner became the head of state in May 2003 under dramatic circumstances. These were early elections. They were appointed in connection with emergency circumstances-the vacuum of the authorities, which after leaving his post as president in December 2001 at the height of the acute socio-economic and institutional crisis. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the vice president resigned even earlier. Under the current conditions, the legislative body - the National Congress - could not choose the temporary head of state for a week. Finally, they became the moderate Peenist Eduardo Dailede, who was defeated in the 1999 elections. He turned out to be a good crisis manager, relying on a qualified economist Roberto Lavan, he managed to keep the country on the edge of the abyss.

Against such a background, preparations for extraordinary elections of 2003 were unfolded. In this very difficult situation, the highest electoral instance allowed the peronists torn by contradictions, not to hold a congress and put up several candidates. Then this party, which was originally a conglomerate of various currents and trends, for the first time in its history nominated three applicants at once. Two of them held polar positions. One is a 74-year-old veteran of the political scene Carlos Saul Menem. For 9 years (from 1990 to 1999) he was at the top of the Pyramid of Power. Under him, the country made a steep turn to neoliberalism. In a short time, it was possible to suppress galloping inflation, achieve an influx of foreign capital, establish the parity of the national currency - Peso with the dollar. Everywhere in the world they started talking about the Argentine economic miracle (his architect Domingo Cavalo once came to Russia at the invitation of reformers and shared Argentine experience with them). On the wave of these achievements, Menem was chosen for a second term.

A little later, the wrong side of well -being was revealed, its price. The external debt increased sharply, unemployment has increased among the able -bodied population, painfully hitting youth, the stratification between the super -rich and the poor, behind the poverty line, were entire social groups. Then there was a destructive default with all the ensuing consequences, well -known Russians. But it was only later. Menem, as it were, remained on a “white horse”, and decided to again join the struggle for the highest post.

The ex-president was opposed by Nestor Kirshner, a 53-year-old young, dynamic governor of the remote province of Santa Cruz, who was chosen three times for this post. He was relatively little known in the national arena, but distinguished himself by the skillful management of the subject of the federation, which managed to protect from economic troubles that fell upon the country. The penis came to an intermediate finish with a minimum margin. K. Menem burst forward from 24.36% of the vote. He counted on an unconditional victory, so he was not very pleased with the results of the round. N. Kirnsher came close to him, who scored 21.99%. They had to continue the struggle. The high density of the results paid attention. They were followed by a lawyer of the right -centric, Lopez Murphy, a representative of the structure that disappeared from the oldest party, a civilian radical union (GRS). Then was Eliza Carrio, put forward by the amorphous left association "An alternative in the name of the Republic of Equal."

As the analysts foresaw, for the first time in the history of the country, the second round was planned. The final results of the elections largely depended on who will get the sympathies of 8.6 million citizens who previously preferred other parties, and from who will be able to achieve success in the metropolitan province, where 38% of voters are concentrated.

Menem immediately, by publishing the results of the first round, stated that the further formality is a pure formality, and he already feels like the president. But, just in case, he was safe. Answering the question of whether his political career will cease if he suddenly suffers a defeat, he said: “Then I will advance in 2007.” Meanwhile, judging by indirect signs, other candidates were inclined to support Kirschner. He took a number of strong steps, in particular, met with mayors of cities from the GRS, who assured him in their loyalty. Soon, a clear favorite of the race was determined. According to a public opinion poll, published on May 6, Kirschner significantly ahead of the competitor: 58.8% of respondents spoke for him, only 31.7% for Menema. Measurements were held on a representative sample in 12 provinces. They talked about the indisputable advantage of Kirschner, even in those areas where in the first round he failed to succeed.

It was a strong blow to Menem's pride. On Wednesday, May 14, four days before the vote, being in the native province of La Riokha, he reported that he was getting off the distance. He explained his decision in particular by the fact that President Dailede allegedly even before the vote predicted to Kirschner and this actually intervened in the course of the electoral process. In the absence of other arguments, Menem threw to the opponent: "Let him remain with his 22 percent, and I will stay with the people." Behind this extravagant step was the desire to connect the potential winner by hand. In this situation, the president was declared Nestor Kirchner.

Having took office on May 25, the new president without swing began to implement the left -giant development project. During his reign, the pace of economic growth reached 8%, unemployment and poverty were significantly reduced, people who emigrated abroad began to return to their homeland in search of the best share, today a high degree of support is maintained. He had good chances to stay in his post, to move for a second term, since the constitution allowed to do this. However, the idea of ​​nominating a candidate for this position not Kirschner himself, but his wife was actively worked out at the top of the party’s leopentric wing. The intrigue remained until the beginning of July.

An external impetus for such a decision was the defeat of the president’s creature in the elections of the mayor of Buenos Aires, the country's largest metropolis. The victory with a clear advantage was won by the entrepreneur Maurisio Makri, the owner of the eminent Club of Boka Huniors, who won the prestigious trophy of South American football on the eve of the second round - the Libertadores Cup. This sounded a disturbing signal for the top. It was required to update the image of the authorities. The harsh Nestor is being replaced by a feminine Christina, capable of ensuring the continuity of the course. In addition, rumors about Kirschner's disease circulate.

The nomination of women into leading roles in politics organically fits into the local political tradition. So, Evita, wife of Juan Domingo Peron, founder of the Hustisialist Party, was very popular. His other wife Isabelle Martinez de Poron was a vice president and took the position of head of state after her husband’s death in 1974.

The current applicant Christina Elizabeth Fernandez was born on February 19, 1953 in the city of La Plata, the administrative center of the Buenos Aires province. She graduated from the Law Faculty of Local University, in the same place she became an activist of the peronist youth organization. During her studies, I met my future husband, they played the wedding in 1975. After a short time, they went to his homeland, to the province of Santa Cruz, located in the south in Patagonia. The spouses have two adult children: 27-year-old son Maximimo and 17-year-old Florence. In the late 1980s, Christina’s political career starts, first at a provincial, and then at a national level. She becomes a deputy of the lower house of parliament.

Christina invariably provided her husband all kinds of support, including legislative. By the time of his election to the Higher post, she was already a senator, gained independent political weight and actively contributed to the promotion of presidential initiatives. In parliament, she has established herself as a consistent fighter for human rights and for the equal rights of women. So spouses, in addition to personal relations, had a political community. Without the participation of Christina, practically no significant decision of the government was made. She even acquired her own cabinet in the presidential pink house, which caused the discontent of the opposition.

Kristina became a peculiar stellar hour in 2005. Then, in the elections to the upper house from the Buenos Aires province, she bypassed the formidable rival Hilda Gonzalez, the wife of the interim president Eduardo Dailede (2002-2003). Observers note that Christina retains excellent physical shape, adheres to a strict diet, drinks mineral water of one brand. Dressed by prestigious fashion designers. According to experts, its drawback is the lack of experience in the executive branch. But she has a strong and strong -willed character. In case of success, it will become the first representative of the fair sex, chosen on this post by universal vote.

On the eve of the nomination ceremony, Christina Fernandez, held at the La Plata Municipal Theater, took place a loud scandal that painfully hit the government. In the cabinet of the toilet room at the office of the Minister of Economy Felicia Miseli, a bag of 60 thousand dollars was discovered. As soon as the public became known to the public, the minister, claiming that her brother had been led to buy the house, filed a spent on the resignation. This was done promptly in order not to inflate the flame of a fire, which could indirectly scorch the first lady. The president immediately satisfied the request and, in order to mitigate the negative effect of what happened, thanked the minister for her contribution to the work of the office. By the way, the ex-minister is a high-profile professional, financier, before the appointment of this post, held the position of the head of the Central Bank. In this post, she changed Roberto Lavanya. Surely the rivals will use this episode for attacks on a favorite that has a high rating. Moreover, having come to power, the current head of state launched a campaign to eradicate bribery and bribery. An irreconcilable struggle with the “thieves in white gloves” was his slogan, which was consistently implemented for more than four years.

The instant resignation of the Minister of Finance serves as a vivid evidence, the recovery of the political situation in the country where the “institutionalization of corruption” took place in the recent past, which affected all branches of power from the bottom to the top. However, such episodes took place under the current administration

Among the main rivals, the economist Roberto Lavanya, who made a decisive contribution to overcoming the economic crisis in the country, stands out. He criticizes the current government for the lack of stringence, the irrational use of financial resources, argues that not everyone gets blessings from economic growth. He considers it necessary to restore the balance between the branches of power, to strengthen the role of the highest legislative and judicial authorities. By the way, Roberto Lavanya was also once in the Peronist Party.

The tireless Eliza Carrio retains the fighting spirit, promising to give the battle the first lady, on the side of which there is a powerful administrative resource. He was already prevented against another potential candidate - restless Carlos Menem. Recently, hearings were resumed about the illegal supply of weapons that occurred during his rule to Ecuador and Croatia, which, in addition to violation of international sanctions, caused damage to the treasury of $ 37 million.

This case was already the subject of litigation in 2001, then Menem was under six months under house arrest, then he was justified, since then his proteges met in the Supreme Court. And now, on the eve of the election, the case was again pulled out of the archive.

But the position of the former president is already not brilliant. He tried to become the governor of his native province of La Riokha, in order to use this post as a springboard for another jump upstairs, but failed, being only in third place.

Meanwhile, the favorite of the race is an active campaign. Her motto: continuity and minor changes. In mid-August, she made a strong move: trying to expand the electoral base, she took her partners as a vice president of the Governor of the Province of Mendos Hulio Kobos from the opposition civilian radical union. True, this caused the dissatisfaction of the leadership of the split gas station, since the member of the leadership of the same party Senator Herardo Moles agreed to run for Roberto Lavanya earlier.

In addition to the activity within the country, Christina Fernandez is developing violent activities in the international arena. Leaving her husband abroad, she also works according to her own program.

The results of the elections depend on the totality of many factors. For example, which of the one-party members will prefer voters of the civilian radical union, how the electorate of the most multi-sized province of Buenos Aires will vote, what choice the peronists themselves make. Of course, the prospective spouse of the president has considerable chances of success. But we can hardly say that the victory is in her pocket. Surprises are possible ahead.

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