Argentina under the Kirchners

The situation of politics in Argentina can sum up into one paragraph and one chart.

When Néstor Kirchner took over as Argentina’s president in 2003, his country’s economy was already on the mend after a sickening collapse 18 months earlier that had prompted debt default and devaluation. Lambasting the IMF and privatisation, Mr Kirchner extended the state’s control over the economy. Rising world prices for Argentina’s farm-commodity exports and government pump-priming unleashed an economic boom. This made Mr Kirchner a popular hero, and secured the election of his wife, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, as his successor in 2007. She has continued his policies. Mr Kirchner was last year elected as a congressman, but according to former officials he still takes many executive decisions.

The bold text is emphasized by me, and that is the most interesting part. It's very similar to Thaksin's rise of power. Now the popularity of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the wife, is declining rapidly. Please expect protests and probably a coup.

From The Economist

• Socialism for foes, capitalism for friends - main article
• Welcome to the Hotel Kirchner - discussing Kirchner Family's businesses