Cristina Kirchner To Push For Latin American Integration And Tackle Poverty

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Cristina Kirchner has said in an interview after getting elected as Argentina's president that tackling poverty and pushing for Latin American integration, especially in energy issues, are among her priorities.

Argentina's first lady told the Todo Noticias network on Monday that her victory in Sunday's election was a recognition of her husband's success as President. Cristina will take over from Nestor Kirchner as head of the nation on December 10.

Riding on the image of her husband, who oversaw Argentina's recovery from the economic crisis of 2001, and the glamour often compared to Hillary Clinton and Eva Peron, Cristina Kirchner won nearly 45% of the vote, ahead of her nearest rival, former MP Elisa Carrio, who received 23%. She acknowledged that Nestor Kirchner had played a major role in her win.
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Christina said she would tackle unemployment and poverty and work to improve health care and education. Equally important is the need for strengthening the regional trade bloc, Mercosur. The consortium consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, has invited oil-rich Venezuela to join.

Answering a question on what Nestor Kirchner will do once he is out of office, Christina said her husband would remain active in the political life of Argentina, indicating the possibility of him returning to run in the 2011 election.

Argentina's first female president-elect said she was happy to be compared to U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, both law graduates, senators, and former first ladies.

"Everything seems to indicate that she is the favorite of the Americans," said Christina Kirchner. "And why not? Another woman wouldn't be bad."

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