First lady finishes campaign for presidency in Argentina

Argentina’s first lady closed her presidential campaign by praising her husband’s achievements as the country’s leader.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner pledged to finish the job she said President Nestor Kirchner had started of restoring Argentina’s dignity after a deep economic crisis.

The first lady is expected to overwhelm 13 other candidates on Sunday, possibly by a big enough margin to avoid a runoff.

Much of her success is due to the President, who cheered at her side but didn’t speak at her final rally in San Justo.

In a speech lasting less than 15 minutes, Fernandez spoke almost entirely about what Kirchner has accomplished, rather than about her own plans.

“Many of the dreams that we had, we have begun to achieve … I call on you this Sunday for the dreams that are unrealised,” she said.

A few thousand supporters applauded and waved flags under a cold drizzle.

Fernandez spoke repeatedly about “the dream of recovering Argentines’ dignity” after a 2002 financial crisis that destroyed savings and sent middle-class Argentines into poverty.

Kirchner engineered a recovery that has delivered an annual growth rate of 8%, and Fernandez has pledged to “deepen” his economic policies.

Her rally was held at a wholesale vegetable market, returning to the spot where Kirchner closed his campaign but also highlighting one of her opponents’ strongest accusations.

Tens of thousands have boycotted tomatoes, potatoes and butternut squash in recent weeks, claiming the government is driving down the consumer price index – and hence inflation – by reporting artificially low vegetable prices.

Elisa Carrio, a former lawmaker who is polling second, closed her campaign denouncing the “arrogance” of those in power, a clear reference to the Kirchners.

“The Argentina that is coming is not the Argentina offered up by the marketing campaigns of others,” she said.

Former economy minister Roberto Lavagna, the other major candidate, skipped a final rally and spent yesterday in smaller appearances including one in which he donned a hard hat and climbed a ladder to inspect a low-income housing project. He also attacked Fernandez.

“We don’t know what plans she has,” he said. “She hasn’t said anything.”

The latest poll, released yesterday by independent pollster Giacobbe & Asociados, showed Fernandez with 43 percent, compared with 23 percent for Carrio and 16 percent for Lavagna. The poll of 2,500 people was conducted between October 13 and 23 in Buenos Aires and five major provinces and had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.

Fernandez’s support doesn’t come only from her husband, as she has won respect on her own for her defence of women’s rights and her fierce campaigning to punish the atrocities of the 1976-83 military dictatorship.

“Asking whether Cristina will win because of herself or because of Kirchner is like asking if someone likes steak or French fries,” said political scientist Gustavo Martinez Pandiani. “People like steak AND French fries.”

Most of the people attending Fernandez’s last rally were brought in on buses organised by unions and local political groups.

The smell of frying sausages, hamburgers and marijuana filled the air and organisers handed out soft drinks and flags.

Flora Garcia, 72, begged for a flag and said she was overjoyed to see “my president”, using the female version of the word.

“Her husband lifted the country from the ruins, and I know she will be even better,” she said.

Fernandez is seeking to become the first woman elected president in Argentina.

Another first lady, Estela “Isabel” Martinez de Peron, served 20 chaotic months as president after the July 1974 death of Juan Domingo Peron.

Peron’s third wife, she was his vice president during his third term and constitutionally took over when he died.

The leader’s second wife was the charismatic Eva Peron, who died of cancer at 33 in 1952.

Despite being a senator who is seeking to follow her husband into the presidency, Fernandez says she doesn’t like being compared to Hillary Clinton.

“Hillary and I have few things in common: We’ve both been senators, lawyers and wives of presidents, but not much else,” she told La Red radio on Wednesday, adding: “There’s nothing better than being yourself.”