(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people in Argentina think former president Néstor Kirchner should refrain from interfering in his wife’s administration, according to a poll by Ibarómetro published in Debate. 73.1 per cent of respondents disagree with Mr. Kirchner intervening in the current government.

In October 2007, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner won the presidential election with 44.9 per cent of the vote as the candidate for the Front for Victory (FV). In December, Mrs. Kirchner succeeded her husband as Argentina’s head of state. The outgoing president was praised for fostering an economic recovery after a major crisis in 2002. Fernández de Kirchner has vowed to address poverty and carry on with her husband’s fiscal policies.

In March, the current government introduced a variable tax on soybean exports, prompting an angry reaction by the country’s farmers. The levy replaced a fixed-rate tax and increased the price of soybeans. Farmers staged protests and organized roadblocks for several weeks. Grain shipments stopped completely, creating food shortages across the country. Despite a brief period of calm, the protests and organized roadblocks continued.

On Jul. 17, a Senate vote on the variable tax on grains finished in a tie. Argentinean vice-president Julio Cobos cast the tie-breaking vote, effectively killing the government bill. The crisis prompted a cabinet re-shuffle.

On Jul. 27, new cabinet chief of staff Segio Massa assured that he will "only take orders from Cristina Kirchner," adding that he doubts that Mr. Kirchner—who does not have an official post in the current government—would "ever call to give me an order."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with former president Néstor Kirchner intervening in the current government?

Source: Ibarómetro / Debate
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 700 Argentinean adults in Buenos Aires, conducted on Jul. 24, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

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