MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cristina Fernandez rests in the Atlantic coast; medical leave ends next Tuesday

The president and her children will spend the weekend in Chapadmalal

Argentine President Cristina Fernández, on medical leave, took her first trip following surgery earlier this month and is spending the weekend with her children Máximo and Florencia at the presidential summer residence of Chapadmalal.

Cristina Fernandez left Friday after midday travelling by air to Mar del Plata where she was escorted to the Chapadmalal residence, 30 kilometres to the south of Argentina’s main seaside resort.

The visit marks the first trip taken by the President since she underwent thyroid surgery on January 4. Also, it’s the first time the Argentine president has been to the seaside resort to stay at the presidential residence since becoming Head of State.

The last visit was with the late Néstor Kirchner in January 2004, when she was still a national senator from the province of Santa Cruz and her husband, Argentine president.

Chapadmalal has several houses to lodge the president and government officials as is surrounded by a wild life park with exclusive access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Cristina Fernandez medical leave is scheduled to end next January 24, but so far there has been no confirmation or denial from the Executive as to the president’s plans.

Vice president Amado Boudou is currently acting president but has kept a low profile plus the fact his office is in the Banco Nacion building because of renovation works in Casa Rosada.

However Cristina Fernandez in spite of her convalescence at the Buenos Aires presidential residence in Olivos, according to political sources, has been active celebrating regular low key meetings with acting president Boudou and other government officials.

The Argentine president was first diagnosed a thyroid gland carcinoma in late December but following surgery and when discharged from hospital January 7, it was revealed that she underwent a full thyroidectomy but lab tests showed no cancer cells were detected. Rather follicular adenomas which are scientifically described as benign tumours.