Nestor Kirchner, former president of Argentina passed away this Wednesday. And, as usual, I had to observe the reactions of the people as an outsider usually does. But first, lets do a little bit of research on Kirchner so that we know a bit better who we're talking about.
In the first incarnatios of his career both he and his wife, Christina (the current president of Argentina), were lawyers with a successful practice in their home of Rio Gallegos. Early on he was a follower of the Justicialist movement who were followers of the late Juan Peron. When democracy was restored to Argentina in 1983 he started his political career becoming Mayor of his town and later Govenor of Santa Cruz province where he was credited with restoring financial balance to the region.
During this time though the economy of the country was starting to tank. President Carlos Menem had been in power from 1989-1999 and was perceived to be corrupt and flamboyant. Fernando de la Rua was then elected but the measures he instituted to help the economy did no good and things got even worse. This eventually led to the November 2001 run on the banks and the government issued a limit and then outright ban on bank withdrawals in hopes of stemming the downward spiral. Of course, a stupid move like this led to rioting in December. De la Rua resigned later that month.
So, de la Rua's chief opponent in the previous election, Eduardo Duhalde (a member of both Menem and Kirchner's party) was installed as interim president. He went and abolished the fixed exchange rate that had previously been in place. Of course what happened was that the Argentine Peso rapidly lost about 2/3 of its value reducing most people's savings to next to nothing while allowing exporters (not your average Argentinian) to profit. (Turns out that Argentina was heavily import-dependent at this time.) Duhalde decided that he didn't want the job anymore (probably was afraid of being lynched) and moved the elections forward by 6 months.
This election happened to wind up being between Menem (again), Kirchner, and supposedly a number of other candidates. Menem got 24% of the votes, Kirchner 22%, and since it looks like they were the 2 front runners, there was going to be a run-off between them. Since Menem was still viewed with a lot of animosity and polls showed Kirchner winning with 30%-40% of the vote, Menem decided to withdraw from the race, essentially handing the election to Kirchner.
*Pause for commentary*
So, what we are basically saying here is that he seems to be a good guy but won the election by a fluke? You would think of someone who was actually quite loved by his people to have made a better showing in the election. Hmm...
*Resume study*
Here's what he had to start out with: Economic instability, a middle class that has in itself been dropped 3 or 4 levels, $178 Billion (American) in debt, and signs of malnutrition cropping up for those below the middle class. Good luck buddy!
So what is on the list of a guy with a huge problem and very little reputatio? Let's see...
#1) Clean house - Let's kick out 1/2 the Supreme Court, impeach some others, boot out most of the high-ranking (and supposedly corrupt) military officials, and replace most of the rest of the governemt with people from his own party.
#2) Declare Bankruptcy - Sorry IMF, Deal with it.
#3) Start ignoring the US - Why don't more countries do this? Let's focus more on our close neighbors and see what we can do to help each other out...
#4) Hmm... People didn't really 'vote' me into office. Let's campain with everyone during the midterm elections. Turned out pretty well for his party...
#5) Ok, things are starting to level out. Let's see if the IMF will bargain a bit and just take a lump sum payout... SWEET!
So, he's pretty popular now. Focus on fixing up your own house and worry about what the others say about it later. But after only 5 years and an extremely good popularity rating... DECIDES NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION. Leave on a good note? Wow... how much smarter can you get?!
But with all of that in mind, there are a number of negative things tinging his career as well. Cronyism, embezzelment, corruption, spying on and harrassing of political opponents, and using the state Intelligence Service for his own gain were just a few. And current president Christina is thought to have profited as well...
So that is your history lesson for the day. Now let's look a bit at culture.
Wednesday was a holiday for the national Census (They have the smart idea of making everyone stay at home and getting it all done in one day) and so there was no school. He passed away that afternoon and as I was walking to school the next day I found that Plaza de Mayo (right in front of the Presidential House- Casa Rosada) is crammed full with people and baricades. I have to walk all the way up this plaza, beyond, and back down again just to get to the school. Of course, wouldn't you know it but they have declared a national day of mourning and the school is closed! Reverse, do it all over again, and head home.
The plaza was filled with people, flags, signs, flowers, and all the traipsings of an American sports legend passing. It seems that the Argentines are very free with their emotions (not only in this instance, FYI). Lots of crying, weeping, shouting, cheering, chanting....
And then Friday, the day of his burial, it of course starts to rain... so cliché. And yet people lined the procession route. TONS of them. There were a number of times that it seemed like the people wouldn't let the hearse get through...
I made mention to some of the people that were sitting watching the affair with me on the TV that this would never happen in the US. First, you couldn't come within 100 yards of the coffin without Secret Service guards taking a running tackle on you. And then Americans are so subdued and somber about these things. You'd see everyone wearing black and with their lips shut. Maybe a few protestors (the ones that always look for something to protest) but nothing more...
So, Fuerza Christina! Nestor con Peron, la Puebla con Christina... (Nestor is with Peron, the people are with Christina)
Jumpn2nsanity
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