Néstor Kirchner: Argentina's independence hero

[Judi Lynn]

Néstor Kirchner: Argentina's independence hero
The death of Argentina's former president is a sad loss. His bold defiance of the IMF paved the way for South America's progress
Mark Weisbrot guardian.co.uk,
Wednesday 27 October 2010 20.20 BST

The sudden death of Néstor Kirchner is a great loss, not only to Argentina but to the region and the world. Kirchner took office as president in May 2003, when Argentina was in the initial stages of its recovery from a terrible recession. His role in rescuing Argentina's economy is comparable to that of Franklin D Roosevelt in the Great Depression of the United States. Like Roosevelt, Kirchner had to stand up both to powerful moneyed interests and to most of the economics profession, which was insisting that his policies would lead to disaster. They were proved wrong, and Kirchner right.

Argentina's recession from 1998-2002 was, indeed, comparable to the Depression in terms of unemployment, which peaked at more than 21%, and lost output (about 20% of GDP). The majority of Argentines, who had, until then, enjoyed living standards among the highest in Latin America, were pushed below the poverty line. In December of 2002 and January 2003, the country underwent a massive devaluation, a world-historical record sovereign default on $95bn of debt, and a collapse of the financial system.

Although some of the heterodox policies that ultimately ensured Argentina's rapid recovery were begun in the year before Kirchner took office, he had to follow them through some tough challenges to make Argentina the fastest-growing economy in the region.

One major challenge came from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF had been instrumental in bringing about the collapse – by supporting, among other bad policies, an overvalued exchange rate with ever-increasing indebtedness at rising interest rates. But when Argentina's economy inevitably collapsed, the IMF offered no help, just a series of conditions that would impede the economy's recovery.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/oct/27/nestor-kirchner-argentina-imf

[Dawson Leery]

1. K/R

It is commendable at least to see these leaders throw off the oppressive chains of the Anglo Capitalists.

[rurallib]

2. Well his death caused me and perhaps many others to learn

of a man who deserves the title "hero"

[Peace Patriot]

3. Kirchner was the "quiet one" among a spectacular array of colorful peaceful revolutionaries

and rather amazing leaders in the "new" Latin America: Hugo Chavez, of course, but also Lula da Silva of Brazil, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, Fernando Lugo of Paraguay, and many other notably colorful personalities, including Kirchner's own successor, his wife Cristina Fernandez (markedly more colorful than her husband). They all stand out as visibly passionate and even fiery personalities, with the amazing part perhaps being their accord--their unity--on principles of social justice, their countries' sovereignty vs multinational corporations/the U.S, inclusive (real) democracy and the need for cooperation/integration to achieve collective clout--and their strong friendships and alliances.

Kirchner said a remarkable thing. When the Bushwhacks sent down their dictate to Latin American leaders, that they must "isolate" Hugo Chavez, Nestor Kirchner replied, "But he's my brother!"

That sums up the spirt of the new South America, from its quietest, most modest, and one of its most effective regional leaders (certainly up there with Lula da Silva)--Nestor Kirchner. He had a spine of steel, when it came to the IMF/World banksters and U.S. interference and domination. So do the others, in what is, in fact, an historic, huge Latin American rebellion against the U.S. and assertion of independence. But he looked and acted with quiet assurance, and was just this very tall, very thin, very pale guy, with a long, thin, mostly somber face--almost a ghostly presence--standing behind everyone else. I noticed the photos of him, standing thus, behind Santos and Chavez, at the recent peace accord between Colombia and Venezuela. I suspect that he had a great deal to do with bringing about that accord, but deferred to others and took no credit.

I am shocked that he is dead at 60. What a loss to Argentina, to Latin America and to the world! His quiet courageous spirit I'm sure will hover over these other leaders for a long time to come.