MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“CFK, a very intelligent political animal, whether you like it or not”

“It seems CFK had an asbestos suit; great conflicts that she had to deal with had struck her but she has managed to give a step aside and come off well,” says Wornat

The world is watching closely Argentina’s political scenario with the general elections just around the corner next October and the BBC has published an article on President Cristina Fernández highlighting the leader’s popularity as she readies to leave office in December.

 “Years go by, crises multiply, her rivals are born and die, but Cristina Fernández, CFK or simply ‘Cristina’ resists,” the piece reads while director of the Isonomía consultant agency Juan Manuel Germano tells the British media that “the president today has a positive image of 50%”.

Under the title “The secret behind the popularity of Cristina Fernández in Argentina,” journalist Ignacio de los Reyes describes some pictures and graffiti he finds in the City of Buenos Aires showing a triumphant and “resistant” CFK.

“And her party continues to have a majority in Congress and a strong presence in the institutions. In the elections of Sunday in the province of Tierra del Fuego, it managed to be the most voted force (although there will be a run-off) and in Mendoza it was the second one (the opposition came together to oust Kirchnerism),” another paragraph reads to then say “Argentines seem to be saying the leader goodbye with a honeymoon”.

The scenario in neighboring countries Chile and Brazil is also brought up, mentioning public image rates of Michelle Bachelet (24%) and Dilma Rousseff (10%), “two leaders facing serious corruption cases”.

A honeymoon the BBC also compares with Cristina Fernandez predecessors: “Raúl Alfonsín (1983-1989), strangled by hyper-inflation, was forced to leave power six months sooner than expected; Carlos Menem (1989-1999) left strongly questioned by numerous scandals and a broken economy,” the British paper says on its online version leaving a special part to Fernando de la Rúa, “a more dramatic case.”

“He left the Casa Rosada in helicopter after signing his resignation, having reached only half of his term, amid social and economic turmoil.”

Quoting Germano again, the article says “citizenship starts to tell president goodbye, makes a balance of her administration with policies such as the Universal Child Allowance, the nationalization of YPF or Aerolíneas Argentinas, and laws such as the gay marriage with high level of support (60-70%) of approval.”

“One of her Achilles heels is the economic question (40%) although there has been an improvement in the approval of her economic administration over the past months,” the consultant tells the BBC. Another source in the story is Olga Wornat, a journalist and biographer of the leader.

“It seems Cristina had an asbestos suit; great conflicts that she had to deal with had struck her but she has managed to give a step aside and come off well,” Wornat says considering Cristina Fernández a “very intelligent political animal, whether you like her or not.”

For the article, the BBC interviewed opposition lawmaker Manuel Garrido of the Radical Party (UCR) who says “Argentines have shown to be very tolerant with her government.”

“Matters like the high levels of corruption or inflation are not considered serious facing social plans, and the consequences of the economic standstill are not yet noticed,” Garrido tells the BBC warning “Argentina will have to face the inheritance of a negative political culture, that has to do with encouraging antagonisms instead of dialogue, that values not democratic deliberation, discredits the control role played by the Judicial Power and makes a Manichean reading of media role.”

Journalist Reyes continues the article saying that “loved or hated, no one can question that “The Boss” (some in her environment call her that way), enjoys an extraordinary power and influence” only six months ahead she gets to hand in the “keys of the Casa Rosada” to her successor.

“The Boss” will be “ a key political figure in the future of Argentina”
“She is convinced about the job she carries out,” ex cabinet chief and ruling Victory Front (FpV) party senator Juan Manuel Abal Medina tells the BBC.