The unexpected death of Nestor Kirchner provides us with a moment to look back on the trials and successes of one of Argentina’s most remarkable and controversial leaders. Kirchner was one of the few global south leaders to successfully challenge international financial institutions, and get away with it.
The unexpected death a few days ago of Nestor Kirchner deprived not only Argentina of a remarkable, albeit controversial leader. It also took away an exemplary figure in the Global South when it came to dealing with international financial institutions.
Kirchner defied the creditors. More importantly, he got away with it.
First Lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s recent decisive victory in Argentina’s presidential
elections, the first for a woman in that country, has meant inevitable comparisons. Frequently referred
to as "Argentina’s Hillary," the president-elect is the glamorous wife of current President
Nestor Kirchner, and despite a long personal political resume she is sometimes likened to Evita Peron.
Then there’s the widespread noting of how Argentina has followed in Chile’s footsteps in electing
a woman president. But Fernandez de Kirchner ‘s win probably matters more because of where she stands
on the political spectrum than because of her gender. As she takes office on December 10, the next
president of Argentina will deepen the consolidation of Latin America’s increasingly decisive "left
turn."