December 13, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Some people in Argentina believe the legacy of Néstor Kirchner will be defined by his handling of the South American country’s finances, according to a poll by CEOP. 27.8 per cent of respondents say economic stability is the former president’s best achievement.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Some people in Argentina believe the legacy of Néstor Kirchner will be defined by his handling of the South American country’s finances, according to a poll by CEOP. 27.8 per cent of respondents say economic stability is the former president’s best achievement.

Job creation is second on the list with 18.1 per cent, followed by debt negotiation with 12.9 per cent.

In 1991, then Argentine president Carlos Menem decided to peg the peso to the U.S. dollar. By 2000, Argentina could no longer keep the currency’s fixed exchange rate, and a decline in consumer confidence provoked substantial withdrawals from banks, triggering a widespread financial crisis. In late 2001, amid violent protests and riots, Domingo Cavallo—in his second stint as economy minister—resigned his post. President Fernando de la Rúa quickly followed suit after 25 people died on street demonstrations.

Kirchner finished second to Menem in the presidential election held in April 2003. Menem withdrew from the scheduled run-off after voting intention polls suggested an overwhelming victory for Kirchner, candidate of the Front for Victory (FV). Kirchner was eligible for re-election this year, but decided to back his wife’s bid instead.

In October, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner won the presidential election with 44.9 per cent of the vote as the candidate for the FV. Elisa Carrió of the Civic Coalition (CC) finished second with 23 per cent, followed by Roberto Lavagna of An Advanced Nation (UNA) with 16.9 per cent.

Fernández de Kirchner was sworn in as president on Dec. 10. In her acceptance speech, the new head of state praised her husband’s economic policies, saying Argentina had "a government which worked to post a budget surplus and to pay off the International Monetary Fund in order to regain our autonomy."

Polling Data

What were the biggest achievements of Néstor Kirchner as president?

Economic stability	27.8%
Job creation	18.1%
Debt negotiation	12.9%

Source: CEOP
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Argentine adults, conducted from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.