Néstor Kirchner, full name Néstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoić (born 25 February 1950), is the President of Argentina, sworn in on May 25, 2003. A Justicialist with leftist leanings, Kirchner was previously governor of the province of Santa Cruz. [1]
A governor of a Patagonian province, Kirchner was little-known internationally and even domestically before his election, which he won by default with only 22 percent of the vote in the first round when former President Carlos Menem withdrew from the race.
Responding to pundits who said he was doomed to become a lame duck, the new president vowed to bring "a cold wind of change" from his chilly southern province. [1] Soon after taking office in May 2003, Kirchner surprised the world by standing down powerful military and police officials. Stressing the need to increase accountability and transparency in government, Kirchner overturned amnesty laws for military officers accused of torture and assassinations during the 1976-1983 "dirty war" under military rule. [2]
A governor of a Patagonian province, Kirchner was little-known internationally and even domestically before his election, which he won by default with only 22 percent of the vote in the first round when former President Carlos Menem withdrew from the race.
Responding to pundits who said he was doomed to become a lame duck, the new president vowed to bring "a cold wind of change" from his chilly southern province. [1] Soon after taking office in May 2003, Kirchner surprised the world by standing down powerful military and police officials. Stressing the need to increase accountability and transparency in government, Kirchner overturned amnesty laws for military officers accused of torture and assassinations during the 1976-1983 "dirty war" under military rule. [2]
READ MORE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Néstor_Kirchner
ARGENTINA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina
