Fernandez de Kirchner First Woman Elected President of Argentina

Argentine first lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner made history this weekend as the first female elected President of Argentina. She is the second woman to be elected president in South America in the last two years, after Michelle Bachelet of Chile.

Fernandez de Kirchner was a prominent senator even before her husband, Nestor Kirchner, was elected President in 2003. She is often compared to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. There is some speculation about whether the couple plans to alternate presidential terms to remain in power for up to 16 years, reports the Washington Post.

She defeated 13 opposition candidates to win the Presidency. She received about 46 percent of the votes, 20 percentage points above her nearest competition, reports the Washington Post. According the Argentine electoral laws, she avoids a second round run-off election with 40 percent of the vote and a 10 percent margin over the first runner-up.

Fernandez de Kirchner will be the second woman to serve as President of Argentina, after Isabel Peron, who was Juan Peron’s vice president and took over the Presidency after his death in 1974.

Media Resources: Associated Press 10/29/07; Washington Post 10/29/07

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