28 October 2010

ARGENTINA: As Nation Mourns, Political Outlook Is Murky.

 NYTIMES/ Nestor Kirchner Bio and Analysis / ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO:
      "Kirchner’s death, coming on a national holiday to conduct the census, throws next year’s elections and the presidency of his wife and political partner, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, into a sudden state of flux. Not only did Mr. Kirchner and his popularity as president help her be elected, but he also exercised substantial influence behind the scenes of her government, playing a hands-on role in the running of the economy and recently serving as the head of their Peronist party."
AND:      “The reaction at first will be of grief and condolence, but then the vultures will move in,” said Federico Thomsen, a political consultant in Buenos Aires. “Initially there will be sympathy for her, but that won’t last too long. She will need to captain the ship.”
AND:    “He had a ruthless view of politics,” said Daniel Kerner, a Buenos Aires-based analyst with Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy. “If you are not the toughest, people will take advantage of you; that’s how he saw politics.”