Maximo Kirchner, the ‘favourite son’ with ever growing influence in her mother’s administration
The French newspaper Le Monde dedicated last week ample coverage to the son of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, Maximo Kirchner, 34, who has a growing influence in her mother’s administration given his double condition as ‘favourite son’ and leader of a youth group La Campora which he founded and is moving full steam ahead.
This has been particularly true since the death of a heart attack of former president Nestor Kirchner (2003/2007) on October 2010, which made him a necessary presence next to his mother, again confirmed during the long three weeks of medical convalescence of the Argentine president following her thyroidectomy in early January.
Reporter Christine Legrand speculates even further and says that the Kirchner couple have been sitting at the Casa Rosada since 2003, first Nestor and now Cristina at the beginning of her second consecutive mandate, so why not, Maximo could be the chosen to ensure the family’s power beyond 2015, when the next presidential election.
“He’s influential, he’s the eldest son of two presidents, very much involved in politics since a child, founder of a youth movement with great influence in the kirchnerite political machinery, and last but not least he carries the Kirchner name”, says political scientist Doris Capurro.
However, Maximo cultivates a low profile, doesn’t give interviews and never speaks in public. He is considered his mother’s right-hand man and the president has admitted that Maximo “has always been her favourite,” and her daughter, Florencia, 21, her late husband’s favourite.
Since the death in 2010 of Néstor Kirchner, late husband of Cristina and president from 2003 to 2007, Maximo has appeared increasingly at Mrs. Kirchner’s side, apparently filling the void left by his father, who governed in partnership with his wife. Though he has a larger build than his late father, Maximo has inherited Néstor Kirchner’s gaze and casual dress sense, which contrasts with his mother’s luxurious tastes.
Maximo first entered politics back in 2003, when he launched a youth movement to support the Kirchner government. The movement is called La Cámpora, after Hector Cámpora, a left-wing president elected in 1973. Cámpora was a supporter of Gen. Juan Domingo Perón, who had been exiled 18 years earlier. Campora resigned 49 days after being elected, clearing a path for Perón – upon returning from exile – to be elected with 62% of votes.
In the wake of Néstor Kirchner’s death, La Cámpora mobilized hundreds of demonstrators, assuring his widow of their unconditional support. For her second term, Cristina Kirchner has placed her trust in this new generation: her cabinet chief, Juan Manuel Abal Medina, 43, is the nephew of one of the founders of Montoneros, the Peronist guerrilla group in the 60s and 70s. He is the son of one of Perón’s closest representatives. The president’s deputy ministers of the economy and justice also hail from the La Cámpora movement.
La Cámpora currently holds eight seats in the Chamber of Deputies and more than 20 seats in regional legislative councils. Many of the La Cámpora militants work for government ministries or head public companies, such as Aerolineas Argentinas, the state run airline. The support Kirchner has received from the next generation has provoked tensions with organized labour, the Confederación General de Trabajo (CGT) trade union. Hugo Moyano, director of the CGT, called La Cámpora’s members a bunch of “rich kids”.
Anibal Fernandez, senator and ex-cabinet chief for the Kirchners, brushes off the idea that Maximo enjoys “growing influence” in public affairs, describing him instead as “a smart kid, an activist who has earned the right to give his opinion and who is in charge of a movement that includes lots of remarkable politicians.”
After abandoning his law studies, Maximo settled in Río Gallegos, the capital of the Santa Cruz region in the south of Argentina and his father’s home town. From there he administers the family fortune. He travels to Buenos Aires regularly to meet with President Cristina’s inner circle of advisors, and continues to oversee the running of La Cámpora from behind the scenes.
Rumours suggest he doesn’t have a good relationship with the vice-president, Amado Boudou. Maximo’s low profile nature clashes with the joviality of this ex-minister of the economy. Boudou, 50, is of French descent and was very conservative in his youth, but now likes to give the impression he’s a rocker: playing the guitar in meetings and riding a Harley Davidson.
Recently, Boudou had to assume a far more hands-on role, replacing the president while she recovered from a Jan. 4 thyroid operation. In late December, Cristina Kirchner was diagnosed to have cancer nodules which later proved “false positive”. She resumed her position earlier this week.
The Argentine Constitution prevents Cristina Kirchner, who was re-elected last October, from setting her sights on a third consecutive term. Argentina’s next presidential election is set for 2015. Some in the media, however, are already speculating about the possibility that Maximo could run in the 2013 by elections, using this as a springboard to the presidency.
But this week during a political rally of allegedly Kirchnerite political leaders, including Vice president Boudou, the possibility of President Cristina Fernandez re-re-election in 2015 through a constitutional amendment, was strongly supported and acclaimed. However according to Friday’s statements from Boudou downplaying that option, is can be concluded that the president did not give her blessing to the emphasis of the rally.
Nevertheless the Lady must be thinking about her legacy, her family and the Kirchner name following 2016, but in politics everybody is a player and has ambitions.
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Maxim Kirchner,the favorite son with ever growing influance in her family's government........
I say :
The methods,we employed to learn were time passed in the centuries not favoring any particular movement of history,but were instead rooted in learning everything about what had happened before,even from sources deemed --unacceptable - by the powers that be .!.......
making it a family thing ?
How did this headline make it into print - Influence in?? Come on - we say influence on!! And since when is Maximo a girl - on HER mother's administration??? Dreadful.
He is being groomed to take over from CFKChaves but I cannot see him being popular with the voters.
1) He has no formal appointment within the country's political system, yet told Bow Wow how to run the country when CFK was off having her neck smoothed out;
2) Is a smart 'kid'of 34 who dropped out of Law School andd was given the family fortune to look after;
3) He “cultivates a low profile, doesn’t give interviews and never speaks in public”, so can he speak or is he unintelligible or just shy?
4) “Though he has a larger build than his late father, Maximo has inherited Néstor Kirchner’s gaze and casual dress sense” it looks to me like animosity in his gaze and his dress sense borders on being on that of a slob;
5) And his crowning glory the La Cámpora movement comprised of 'rich kids'.
Well what a catch for the country.
not very bright and overweight, imature and lusting for power .
Maybe Corporations?
Maybe Concentrated Media groups like it used to be till a few years ago?
Maybe International Banks?
Maybe foreign monarchies??
I wonder if these same journalists have something to say about the influence and support that European leaders like Sarkozi and Berlusconi gave to those dictators like Khadafi or Moubarak before the revolutions in these countries, before they were shown by the media like monsters.
Please watch the picture here:
www.ferminlira.com/images/visionaire.png
Let's trust media that support ideas and that does not change its words depending on the nationality of the leader they are writing about.
The Government that CFK's heads is influenced by PEOPLE and masses more than her son. Saying that he could be the next president is really giving readers really WRONG INFORMATION. Nobody in Argentina can think so...
Let's be CRITIC, stop buying headlines like if they were a Hollywood Movie.
Do not let media wash your brains so easily, ask for proofs, ask for certainties, not for speculations. Apart from this, we live in a globalized world, much of what happen in Argentina has to do also with foreign interests.
Unfortunately it is headlines that sell papers,
The people are not stupid, but they all like a good juicy headline,
No body is supposed to believe what they read in newspapers, but some believe everything and anything they read,
For that is the power of the media is it not,
It has the masses listening, reading, and watching, by the millions,
It is very influential powerful and intimidating.
.
On the other hand, information is important for the life of societies, that's why it should be controlled in a way, without compromising the freedom of expression.
That is why I support the law that goes against corporate media in Argentina, the one that CFK's Government impulsed and the Congress voted.
I agree with you about some media being “influential, powerful and intimidating”.
When you try to control the freedom of the press,
Them they claim that democracy itself is being threatened,
That they have the right to investigate anything thus they consider is in the best publics interest,
At this point you get the results of bad journalism and the infringements of rights, like Maxwell
The news of the world, and the scandals that go with it, which drags the word decency into the gutter,
Even today 4 journalist were [helping the police with their inquires]
Controlling the press or freedom of the press, has its good and bad sides,
But witch would you prefer??
.
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/28/falkland-islands-belong-argentina
While some Argentineans’ still claim the Falklands for their own, increasing numbers are daring to say they should remain British
As more and more wake up to the real world, they begin to understand, that the islands are British, and will remain as such,
Sooner or later CFK will understand this,
The sooner the better, then we can go home in peace.
.
I am laughing your UK criticism regarding Argentina political life in this newspaper. Where do you get your sources ? In the bathroom of your dirty pubs located along the Thames ? You guys are amazing. “
” growing number of young Argentineans’ are questioning their nation's claim to the disputed islands
While some Argentineans’ still claim the Falklands for their own, increasing numbers are daring to say they should remain British
As more and more wake up to the real world, they begin to understand, that the islands are British, and will remain as such, ”
WHAT !!!
I am wonder why you are so verbally distractive to something that you only have seeing in some documentary.
By the way, is it true that fog increases colon irritation and constipation among English people? That may explain their bitter thinking and the lack of observing their own reality. Do you still live in a Monarchic land my friends. YEAP.
And does eating all that red meat give you argies bowl cancer?
The suggestion that a lot of young people are not singing from the same hymn sheet as CFKC over the Falklands is exactly the conclusion I reached when talking to Argentines. It is the last concern on their agenda and think it is a lost cause.
You say :
There is no way that censoring the press is acceptable..........
I say :
We recognized that inproved participation of civil society depend on strenghtened the right to access information and building civil society
capacity to exercise this right ,technology is making easier Governments to share informations with the public and for the public to hold decision makers accountable,in this regard it is essential to work towards universal access to information and communication techs.......
Yes, but it would be completely wrong if the public was only listening to government propoganda. The opposition, minority and alternative opinions should have the same platform so people can make their own decisions. The CFKC's government wishes to silence any media that does not stick to the government line. And fines independent consultants from questioning the figures put out by the government. If they had nothing to hide they would welcome the challenges.
pot kettle black would help .
Good idea, but I think 말을하지 않는 뚱땡 is probably closer: “Fat boy who does not speak” :o)
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