MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Maximo, probably the most influential advisor of Cristina Fernandez, but king of the lows profile

The “preferred” of his mother, shuns the media has never made a public speech

Maximo Kirchner, 36, since the death of his father Nestor Kirchner in October 2010 in the main support of his mother both affectionately and politically, although his political aspirations are not well known because of his very low profile.

Since the death of his father the name of Maximo and his political grouping La Campora have acquired a political dimension and power inside different areas of government that before October 2010 were unthinkable.

However the son of President Cristina Fernandez never shows in public and has not modified his strict low profile attitude or changed residence. He continues to live in Rio Gallegos with his girlfriend Rocio and in very few occasions flies to Buenos Aires.

On the contrary his mother tries to spend the most time with Maximo and on most weekends flies to Rio Gallegos.

As opposed to the children of other Argentine presidents, Maximo rarely is seen in official ceremonies or at Government House and he is never present in the meetings of the President with her cabinet or other activities.

The “preferred” of her mother, as Cristina Fernandez described him in a public speech is an ‘atypical’ political leader; he has phobia of the media, he has never given interviews not even to the friendly press, prefers to be anonymous, he does not speak in public and it is not known whether he effectively sets the line inside his grouping La Campora.

If Maximo effectively is a standing consultant, advisor of the president in issues referred to politics or administration, no tracks have been discovered in any official measure or decision. Any advising or exchange of ideas remains in the strictest privacy of mother and son.

But members of La Campora to the dismay of political leaders from the ruling coalition and the unions were privileged in the last legislative elections and have increasing presence and power in different government departments.

Furthermore government sources have not denied insistent rumours that Maximo is being prepared to be elected to Congress in representation of the province of Buenos Aires.

Government sources have indicated that based on the evolution and recovery of her son’s condition the President will decide whether to cancel or go along with her agenda for the rest of the week, mainly the trip to the UN in New York and later to the G20 in Mexico.

So far there has been no change of plans.