Politics and Economy 2002-2009

The current president of Argentina is Cristina Kirchner, wife of former president Nestor Kirchner. Though the economy has improved since 2002, inflation—rising at an estimated rate of 15%—continues to create an unstable economy especially with high food and energy prices.

Also a critical problem in Argentina is the 25% of the population who live in poverty and the uneven distribution of wealth.  Christina Kirchner has strengthened relations with other Latin American countries, especially Venezuela and Ecuador, and has traveled extensively throughout the world. She attended the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington D.C. in 2008 where she held meetings with many prominent leaders including Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd and Madeleine Albright.

Some Argentineans believe that she has focused more on international relations than on pressing domestic problems.  Cristina Kirchner raised taxes on agricultural exports, hindering many poorer country farmers’ ability to maximize profit. Her approval ratings as of 2009 were 29% according to MercoPress, although at the start of her presidency approval ratings were at 58% according to Spain’s newspaper El Pais.

Cristina and Nestor Kirchner are known as “K Politicians” or “The Clintons of the South,” and have greatly improved Argentina’s foreign relations especially among other Latin American countries. Cristina is not only dubbed “Queen Cristina” for her impeccable decorum, but also as the “Queen of Botox” and Cristina, along with her many designer clothes and handbags, appears in the tabloids often.

Those who oppose the Kirchners fear that the “Kirchner Dynasty” could turn into something reminiscent of Juan Peron and his rule. At the time being, the Kirchners have had some success in stabilizing Argentina. Recently, there has been talk of the Kirchners embezzling money, although this claim has not been proven. 

tags: economy · politics ·