English Story

阿根廷总统费尔南德斯将谋求连任

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner says she will stand for re-election in October.

阿根廷总统克里斯蒂娜·费尔南德斯·德基什内尔声称十月份她将谋求连任。

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said she would ‘keep going’
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said she would ‘keep going’
Speaking on television, she said she wanted to continue to drive her government's plans forward.

Ms Fernandez was elected in 2007, succeeding her husband, Nestor Kirchner, in the post.

Mr Kirchner had been widely expected to run again this year, when he would once again have been eligible as a candidate, but he died in December.

Ms Fernandez ended months of speculation about whether she would stand for another term when she went on national television and said: "I always knew what I should do, and what I had to do."

It was widely acknowledged that Ms Fernandez and Mr Kirchner made a formidable(强大的) team. They were often described as Argentina's power couple.

But Mr Kirchner's death robbed President Fernandez of her closest political confidant.

And until Tuesday there had been rumours that health concerns or family pressures might persuade her not to run again.

But, still wearing black in memory of her husband, she said: "How could I give up and not keep going?"

Economic legacy

Since she came to power, Ms Fernandez has broadly continued her husband's policies.

She renewed contacts with the International Monetary Fund, after years of hostility.

But inflation in the country remains high, and many say, underreported(低估,少报) .

The president faced her biggest challenge in 2008, when farmers protested for months against her plan to raise taxes on farm exports.

The protests led to food shortages in Buenos Aires and the proposal was finally defeated in Congress.

Analysts say a growing economy and lower unemployment have helped the president regain some of the popularity she lost during the stand-off with the farmers.

The presidential election is scheduled for 23 October.