Argentine president-elect thanks husband
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
BUENOS AIRES, Oct 30 (Agencies) First lady Cristina Fernandez, in her first televised interview since winning Argentina's presidency, thanked her husband for his role in her triumph and wished Hillary Rodham Clinton well in her US election bid. Speaking on Argentina's Todo Noticias network Monday, Fernandez defended President Nestor Kirchner's controversial handling of inflation and the nation's consumer price index and promised to put a priority on creating jobs, boosting exports and bettering health care and education.
Fernandez, a 54-year-old three-term senator, captured 45 percent of the vote Sunday - outpacing another female runner-up, independent Elisa Carrio, by more than 22 percentage points. A dozen other candidates trailed even further back in an unprecedented race where women took the top two spots.
Fernandez acknowledged in the 40-minute interview that she admired Clinton and noted frequent comparisons made between the two. Both women are senators and lawyers who accompanied husbands from obscure state governorships as they rose to the presidency.
Fernandez, a 54-year-old three-term senator, captured 45 percent of the vote Sunday - outpacing another female runner-up, independent Elisa Carrio, by more than 22 percentage points. A dozen other candidates trailed even further back in an unprecedented race where women took the top two spots.
Fernandez acknowledged in the 40-minute interview that she admired Clinton and noted frequent comparisons made between the two. Both women are senators and lawyers who accompanied husbands from obscure state governorships as they rose to the presidency.