PHOTO: Evita Is Dead, Long Live Cristina

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is, according to many Argentineans, the successor of the never forgotten Evita Peron.

The new icon of the Argentinean political scene, the first lady and soon to be president Cristina Fernandez de Krichner is the most exposed political personality in the last few weeks. This 54 year old energetic Latino-American very rarely gives interviews, does not have an election camp, and the names of her associates are a mystery. However, the media is full of her pictures, statements, and all polls predict a certain win for her in the first round of the Argentinean presidential elections.

It is as if the first lady of Argentina was created for the covers, and has charisma which will ensure the presidential place without the usual “election activities” on which candidates today spend millions of dollars. Some analysts consider that a good part of the campaign was “made by” her husband, the Argentinean president Nestor Kirchner, who is the son of a Croatian immigrant from Brac, Marija Ostojic. He cut taxes for the middle class, raised pensions, and even implemented pensions for housewives. If we take into consideration that Nestor Kirchner will not run for presidency again, even though this is his first and economically very successful mandate, it is obvious that Mrs de Kirchener decided that her time has come.

Under the influence of the leftist student movement

Many compare her with the Argentinean icon Evita Peron, and some with the former American first lady Hillary Clinton. Cristina rejects comparisons with Hillary, and admires Evita, saying that she was an inspiration for all women in Argentina.

Cristina shaped her career with her participation in the left wing student movement of the Peron party in the 1970s.

- I entered politics when it was nearly impossible to be a dissident, because that was not allowed, said Cristina Fernandez.

She said her political views are under the influence of the leftist activism from the turbulent 70s when she was studying law, where she met her present husband Nestor.

- We wanted to change the world. Now we are real and only want to change our country – said Cristina.

She advocates, as she says herself, for the poor and lower class, national interventionism and social justice. Her husband is especially popular for his economic recovery of the country, which occurred during his mandate, and after the financial crisis at the end of the 90s. This year’s growth rate is 8.5%, and the first lady claims that her social politics is not against the profits of large companies, but only wants them to be more socially sensitive.

Woman and politician

La Penguina or la Fahionetta as she is called for her fashion craze, leads with fashion and looks with 45% of the votes ahead of her rival, who also studies law, Elise Carrio. The only place where Elise is equal to Cristina is Buenos Aires, whilst in the rest of the country, Cristina is strongly in the lead.

From 1989 Cristina was the governor of the Santa Cruz province, and since 1995 she has been in the senate.

Cristina says the main difference between her and Hillary Clinton is that she had a career before her husband became president, and Hillary only became famous then. However she says that she respects her as a woman and as a politician. When her husband became president, Cristina because an unofficial ambassador of her husband’s Cabinet. She had influence on all of his decisions, and her decisive performance is most favoured by citizens with lower incomes. She also addresses critics that accuse the Kirchener’s of becoming a monarchy, and that without her husband, she could not have advanced like this.

- Our society needs as many women as possible in positions that make decisions, and in business areas. We always need to pass a double test: first of all, even though we are women, we are not idiots, and the test that everyone else needs to pass – says the first lady of Argentina.

Political rivals call upon her for her obsession with her looks and claim that she is neglecting her children for her career, her son Maxim and her daughter Florence. However this has had no effect on her popularity. The poor and worker class hope that she will continue the politics of her husband, thanks to which millions of Argentineans have found employment.

Best representative of Argentina

Analysts expect that as the president, Cristina Fernandez will lead a more active foreign policy, unlike her husband that does not like to travel. It is no secret that the South American leaders, like Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, delighted at her appearance, and has very good connections with the USA. Even though it is economically blooming, Cristina needs to face problems like the lack or energy sources, the decreasing budget surplus, and high inflation. However, the first lady has already shown that obstacles do not exist for her. She has practically won the elections, despite her unconventional campaign, at 54 she looks like a model, and her time has yet to come.